Al Ahli host Sepahan with next round of Asian Champions League in sight

Ahli coach pays tribute to side's commitment as they seek to do the double over Sepahan in the Asian Champions League

Abdulaziz Husain, left, of Al Ahli fights for the ball with Ahmed Khamis of Sharjah at Rashid Stadium in Dubai on March 27, 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National

DUBAI // Juggling resources as they fight for four trophies, Cosmin Olaroiu reserved special praise for his Al Ahli players ahead of Tuesday night’s Asian Champions League encounter with Sepahan.

The Dubai club, nine points clear in the Arabian Gulf League and with both domestic cup finals to come, entertain their Iranian opponents in the middle of a programme that includes 13 matches in two months.

It represents an arduous route to success, but Ahli have so far met every challenge head on. Asia has provided considerable joy, too, with a last-gasp, 2-1 victory in Sepahan two weeks ago placing Ahli on the cusp of qualification to the knock-out stages. Joint top of Group D, three points in the return fixture at the Rashid Stadium would put the hosts well on the road to the last 16.

“It’s very important, because we have an advantage over Sepahan, who are two points below us,” said Olaroiu, the Ahli coach. “It’s a big step towards qualifying. But all four teams in this group still have a chance, and I believe it will go to the last game.

“We expect a very difficult game. We saw the power of Sepahan in the first match; they can create trouble for any team.”

Olaroiu said that, given Ahli’s hectic schedule, he will not choose his starting XI until late today. He has been impressed by the squad’s recent consistency, though, with the weekend’s gutsy league victory against Sharjah maintaining Ahli’s fine form. They were last beaten at the beginning of January.

“This is the merit of the players,” he said. “Because they treat every competition seriously. They don’t think about each competition but each match, step-by-step. They do their best and play with high concentration and the right attitude in all games. This is to our benefit.”

Ahli will take heart from that win in Iran, yet its merits were subject to debate before the rivalry renews here. Zlatko Kranjcar, the Sepahan coach, questioned Ismail Al Hammadi’s injury-time winner at the Foolad Shahr Stadium. He said the winger’s intention had been to cross the ball, but instead it found the top corner.

“It was an exceptional goal, the result of impatience in my team, who were pushing to win,” Kranjcar said. “We’ll not make the same mistakes. We must play to the last moment to reach further in this competition.”

Asked if his team got lucky last time out, Olaroiu said: “It’s not all about luck, it’s also the work of the players. It’s not just because [Sepahan] made mistakes.

“Of course, they want revenge, but we want to prove ourselves, also, and we’ll tell our players not to try to cross the ball this time.”

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