Zlatko Dalic is urging Al Ain fans to rally behind the team in big numbers, claiming their support will be crucial in helping the team reach the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League.
Al Ain host Saudi club Al Ittihad on Tuesday at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the first leg of the quarter-finals before travelling to Jeddah for the away game seven days later.
The only club to win the Champions League twice in a row when they succeeded Al Ain as the champions in 2004 and then beat the UAE club in the 2005 final to retain the title, Ittihad are one of the most popular clubs in Saudi Arabia, with a large supporter base.
Though no Ittihad fans will be allowed inside the stadium for the match in Jeddah, since the Asian Football Confederation asked that the game be played behind closed doors because of unruly fan behaviour in the past, many are expected to travel to Al Ain to support their team in the first leg on Tuesday.
Dalic hopes the Al Ain fans will come out in even greater numbers to support his team.
“I can assure the fans we have made every possible effort to make sure we get the result that will lead us into the semi-finals of the Champions League,” Dalic told Al Ain’s website. “That is my goal and the goal of my team as well.
“It’s a new challenge for us and I believe my team deserves to be in the semi-finals. But we need strong support from our fans because we are going to face a strong team, who have the same ambitions and have a large fan base as well.
“So it is important that I have great confidence in the support and assistance of the Al Ain fans in order for us to complete our mission.”
Al Ain, the 2003 Asian champions, and Ittihad were in the same group for the preliminary stages of the tournament. The Saudi club won their home tie 2-1 and drew the game in the UAE 1-1.
Al Ain, however, finished ahead of them in the group and then beat their Arabian Gulf League rivals Al Jazira 4-2 on aggregate for a place in the last eight.
Since then, they have been preparing for the clash against Ittihad during the summer off-season. They conducted two training camps in Europe and are now back home, with Dalic putting the finishing touches to his plans.
“We have been preparing for more than 40 days now and things have gone to plan,” said the Croatian, who worked at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia before moving to Al Ain.
"Now we just need to shift gears and take advantage of the high morale of the players and their eagerness to do well. We have seen remarkable progress in the physical and technical levels of the players in the past month, but we have yet to reach the peak of our readiness.
“So we need to keep working hard over the coming days, with the same passion and seriousness we have shown in the last stages.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
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Industry: technology, logistics
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A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
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Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
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SEMI-FINALS
Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm
Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm
Matches are live on BeIN Sports
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
