Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic backs juniors to shine in absence of key players

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  • Staying confident: Zlatko Dalic

    Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic has backed the club’s young stars to make the most of the “large” opportunity to impress this summer in the absence of his UAE stars.

    The Boss have begun pre-season with a depleted squad as eight key players – including midfielder Amer Abdulrahman bought from Bani Yas – are in Spain for a monthlong national training camp.

    With negotiations about an early release proving futile, they will not be free until after August 10. This has given an opportunity for U-21 League regulars such as striker Yousef Ahmed and midfielder Rayan Al Jaberi to catch the coach’s eye.

    “Al Ain said on several occasions that the interest of the national team is above all else,” said Dalic. “But it is not easy for any coach in the world when their preparatory programme starts with a significant challenge posed by the absence of eight important players.”

    “Our team will be better than last season, but we will face a problem in the set-up programme. I think that the team’s under-21 players are well aware that the opportunity that they have been given in the absence of the internationals is large.”

    “My confidence in the team’s players who are 21 years old or under is boundless. I did not hesitate to give them the opportunity and will work to validate their presence, because they have good potential.”

    Al Ain’s juniors finished third in the 2015/16 U-21 League, finishing well behind the runaway top two of Al Wahda and champions Sharjah. In a tight race for top scorer, 22-year-old Ahmed – who has scored twice in six senior appearances since his 2012 debut – finished fifth with 11 goals and Al Jaberi contributed nine efforts.

    Al Ain are currently being put through their paces at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium before heading off to Austria next week for a camp which wraps up after August 14’s friendly against Napoli.

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