MELBOURNE – Saudi Arabia’s caretaker coach Cosmin Olaroiu Saturday said he’s spending as much time acting as a psychiatrist to his players as imparting tactical wisdom at the Asian Cup.



The Romanian said strengthening the mentality of the Saudi players was one of his biggest challenges as the three-time champion looks to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.



“Improving the psychology of the players is a very important part of my job,” he told reporters on the eve of its crunch Group B clash with Uzbekistan.



“You need to build the confidence of the players. Attitude is the most important thing in football.”



Saudi Arabia won the last of its three Asian Cup titles in 1996 and was runner-up for a third time in 2007 when it was stunned by Iraq in the final, but has slipped behind the region’s powerhouses Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia in recent years.



“There is more to football than what happens on the pitch,” added Olaroiu. “To be a coach you have to be working in many directions.”



Saudi Arabia recovered from a shock 1-0 defeat by China in its opening game by overpowering North Korea 4-1 in midweek, effectively making Sunday’s Melbourne clash against the Uzbeks a knockout game with the Chinese already through.



Naif Hazazi and Nawaf Alabid have both fluffed penalties, raising questions as to the mental strength of the Saudis.



Uzbekistan reached the semifinals in 2011 but needs a drastic reversal in fortune following a stunning 2-1 defeat by China.



“I don’t think we underestimated China,” said Uzbekistan coach Mirdjalal Kasimov. “We just made silly mistakes and we paid for them.”



Asked if he would step down if Uzbekistan failed to advance, the former midfielder replied: “We came to this tournament in high spirits and with big expectations and carry them into tomorrow’s game. If we fail, there will be time to consider my future.”



The game will decide which team joins China as the Group B quarterfinalist. A win over North Korea in Canberra will complete a perfect run through the group stage for China Sunday.



It has won its opening two games at the Asian Cup for the first time since 1988 but has never made it three. China coach Alain Perrin was already celebrating his team’s group win after beating Uzekistan in Brisbane this week.



“We played a very beautiful match,” Perrin said after his side’s 2-1 win. “Now we can move to the knockout stage in the first ranking of the group. It’s fantastic.”



North Korea has lost eight and drawn two of its past 10 Asian Cup matches, and scored just three goals in its last nine games of the tournament.



However, one of North Korea’s three Asian Cup wins was a 2-1 victory over China in 1990.



China has won all three matches between the two teams since 2005. — Agencies