At the start of February, the manager of the UAE’s champion football club warned that Saudi Arabian spending would either crush everyone else in Gulf football or force them to invest to try to keep up.
Just over a month later, Milos Milojevic’s point has already been born out. While UAE involvement in the continent’s top club competition has ended, Saudi sides are bestriding it like giants.
The draw for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite will take place on Monday. Three teams from the Kingdom – Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ahli – are the financial powerhouses of the eight sides left standing.
The other participants from the west of Asia are Al Sadd, the two-time winners from Qatar, who knocked out Milojevic’s side, Al Wasl, in the last 16.
The make-up of the western half of the draw feels fitting in a competition which has two main sponsors from the Kingdom – Neom and Visit Saudi – with the other being Qatar Airways.
There is $10m on offer for the winners of Asia’s Champions League, and $4m for the losing finalists. Not exactly chump change, but the sort of figures that Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been leading the line for Nassr with distinction, would barely get out of bed for.
Ronaldo’s quarterly wages ($50m) are greater than the entire market value of the UAE’s costliest squad, which is that of outgoing Asian champions Al Ain ($49m).
That uses figures from the football statistics website transfermarkt.com. While market value figures are subjective, the source is consistent in its application.
According to that metric Al Wasl slightly overperformed by finishing fifth in the pool stage of the Champions League Elite.
Al Ain were the biggest underperformers. Their squad had the sixth best market value in the opening phase of the new format for Asia’s elite competition. Yet the defending champions finished dead last in the 12-team pool, surrendering their title with barely a whimper.
There is plenty of research that shows spend on wages, in particularly, corresponds closely to league positions in leading football leagues.
Milojevic, the Al Wasl manager, said it is difficult bridging the chasm to the Saudi clubs, but said his club are working hard to do it.
“We as coaches can work on things, and make the map for the players to travel,” Milojevic said. “In the two games [against Al Sadd], we created a lot of chances, in my eyes. We had a lot of shots on the goal.
“There is research – not just my idea – that says the more money you invest you will get more quality. I’m not the one who decides how much is invested in each country and I am happy with my players.
“For me, if you don’t have the biggest budget, you have to work more. You have to work smartly with recruiting and scouting, and you have to take your chances.”
Were it not for an 11-minute spell, inspired by Akram Afif in which Sadd scored three times, Wasl could foreseeably have progressed.
Milojevic said his side had been wasteful, but pointed out that Sadd have more experience of big games like that one.
They also have invested substantially. Their forward line included Claudinho, a Brazilian recruited for $22m in January, and Rafa Mujica, a Spanish striker who cost them $11m.
“I don’t think there is the type of investment there is in Qatar that there is in Saudi. Saudi is completely different,” Milojevic said.
“Unfortunately, I feel sorry for UAE and my club that we couldn’t have at least one club representing the country.”
There is at least one UAE side remaining in the Champions League Two, after Sharjah beat Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli on penalties, in the small hours of Thursday morning. It was the second of five consecutive matches the UAE Pro League title rivals are playing against each other in various competitions.
Sharjah’s semi-final tie will pit them against a Saudi side – and one who prove the point that the lavish funding does not necessarily trickle down all the way through the league.
Al Taawoun upset expectations last season by finishing fourth, above Jeddah giants Al Ittihad and an Al Ettifaq side who were coached by Steven Gerrard.
Now under the guidance of one of just two Saudi coaches in the SPL, they are in mid-table in the league, but have progressed well in the continental competition.
Adel Taarabt, the former Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, and Benfica playmaker, said there is no reason for Sharjah to fear their next opponents just because they are from Saudi.
“They have a really strong competition and the league is much better than it used to be, but I think our league is good,” Taarabt said.
“We beat Shabab Al Ahli who are also a strong team. Let’s see. We are going to prepare well and we are going to go there to get through.”
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
