AL AIN // Zlatko Dalic says Al Ain must qualify for the Asian Champions League knockout stages to consign to the past their Arabian Gulf League disappointment – and ease the pressure on his position.
The Garden City club host Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi on Tuesday in the final Group D match needing victory to guarantee progression to the last 16 later this month.
Al Ain, second in the standings, have had a difficult few days domestically, relinquishing their league crown with one round to spare by losing to Fujairah last Thursday. It handed the title to rivals Al Ahli.
That has cranked up the heat on both Dalic and his players, but they can finish the season strongly by advancing in the Champions League, while they also have the quarter-finals of the President’s Cup to come.
Three points against Nasaf would seal a last-16 spot for the third successive year, although both teams below them – Nasaf and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli – can still progress. A draw for Al Ain may be enough.
Asked if victory at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium was important to his long-term future at the club, Dalic said: “Yes, because I remember last season we were league champions and had celebrations, but four days later lost in the Champions League against Al Ahli and everybody pointed, everybody was unhappy, because people here think we must win everything.
“Tomorrow it won’t only be Al Ain on the pitch, but we must do our best to win. I hope we’ll pass the group stage and take confidence into the next round and the President’s Cup. Like always, I’m optimistic. I hope my team will give a good answer tomorrow.”
Dalic said his side have trained well this week and are ready for Nasaf, citing the need for an early goal to release some tension and set the club on their way to the last 16.
With the President’s Cup against Al Wasl next week, too, the 2014 champions still have a lot to play for. Dalic insists that will go some way to making up for their runner-up finish in the league.
“My apologies for all Al Ain fans, we’re second but it’s not a tragedy,” he said. “Now we forget the league and put all our focus into the Champions League and President’s Cup.
“I know how important it is for our fans, it’s ‘Asia, Asia, Asia’ because it’s a big, big competition. My players understand everything: they know there’s 20 days in front of us and will do everything for success.
“The Champions League is the biggest competition. Two years ago we were semi-finalists and last year the last 16, both times through the group stage.
“We have to see the future and cannot look behind us at the past. Now we have two big competitions and we have to be ready for them.”
Elsewhere, Al Jazira round off Group C against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in Tashkent, however the Abu Dhabi club have no chance of qualifying.
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