Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic is scared of history repeating itself in the AFC Champions League after coming out on the losing side in a club v country row.
The Croatian’s seven-strong UAE contingent head into tonight’s crucial quarter-final opener against Lokomotiv Tashkent severely undercooked because repeat overtures to gain an early release from a month-long national camp failed.
This means the likes of superstar playmaker Omar Abdulrahman have only been with the Boss for 10 days, which is in stark contrast to their sharp opponents who sit top of the ongoing Uzbek Oliy League. The situation is reminiscent of a disastrous semi-final against Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal in 2014, in which a 3-0 first-leg loss was inflicted after the Whites players only joined up two days prior.
“I had a very bad experience two years ago, that I shall not repeat,” said an animated Dalic last night. “We won two games against Al Ittihad and passed to the semi-final.
“Again, my players went to the national team for 20 days, then came back for two days before our game and we lost 3-0. Because of this experience, one month ago I said ‘please, give me my players. I respect national team, but give support to Al Ain’. Of course, the national team is No 1, but they have many games in the group stage.
“For Al Ain, 10 days is not enough. Nobody asked the national team why Al Ain didn’t qualify, everybody asked me.” He added: “10 days is not enough to update your computer, so how do you prepare a team for a Champions League game?”
Despite these problems, much is expected of the 2003 winners when their 2016/17 commitments begin this evening at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. The club have recruited UAE metronome Amer Abdulrahman from Bani Yas and Kashima Antlers winger Caio as they bid to become continental kings again and reclaim the Arabian Gulf League-crown.
“My feeling last 10 days is we did a good job and tried to incorporate the new players Caio and Amer,” said the 49-year-old Dalic. “We will play a good game.” But progress will not be easy. Lokomotiv edged Al Nasr – who play Qatar’s El Jaish tomorrow – to top spot in Group A before impressively dispatching Hilal in the roud of 16, while their only defeat during 31 games this year came in last month’s Uzbek Cup final.
In contrast, Al Ain edged into the knockouts after losing their first two Group D-games and required a bravura performance away at Iran’s Zob Ahan to make the last eight. Lokomotiv coach Andrey Miklyaev was confident his match-fit troops can eliminate rusty opposition.
He said: “We know that Al Ain have many good players, but the main thing is they didn’t start official games. We have started the second half of our domestic championship and it will be an advantage.” The teams meet again at Bunyodkor Stadium on September 13.
