ABU DHABI // Zlatko Dalic says Al Ain’s new foreign players can help the club successfully defend their Arabian Gulf League title next season.
The Croatian guided Al Ain to their 12th league title in May, with the foreign contingent of Asamoah Gyan, Miroslav Stoch and Jires Kembo Ekoko each playing their part in the Garden City club’s triumph.
Dalic will, however, have to integrate new players after the Ghanaian striker Gyan joined Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, Stoch, the Slovakian midfielder, returned to Fenerbahce after a one-year loan, and French-born attacker Kembo Ekoko was told he is surplus to requirements.
Replacing the goals of Gyan, who scored 128 times during a four-year stint in UAE football that helped Al Ain secure three league titles and, with it, three Golden Boots, will be particularly hard, but Dalic said life would go on without the former Sunderland man.
“The key to our winning the Arabian Gulf League last season was that the team stayed together and we were like a family. Everyone gave everything for the team, for the results,” Dalic said on the sidelines of the AGL Awards at the St Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island on Sunday.
“Gyan was a fantastic player for Al Ain. He received a fantastic offer, and so why not take it.
“He gave four, quality years for the team. I stand by his move and agree now that he needs to look for fresh challenges.
“And without him, we too have a fresh challenge ahead. We will have to change our tactics with the new signings. All I can say for now is that Al Ain will be OK even without Gyan.”
Gyan was transferred to the Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG and Al Ain are believed to have banked €20 million (Dh81.3m) from the sale.
Replacing him is the Nigeria international Emmanuel Emenike, while the other new signings are Ryan Babel, the former Liverpool and Netherlands forward, and the Brazilian midfielder Felipe Bastos.
“These players are hungry and I’m sure they will help me and my team,” Dalic said.
“They can be a part of our success for sure. I think these are ideal replacements as we played many games last season without our main players like Omar [Abdulrahman] and Gyan and still won.”
Dalic, 48, was named the AGL Coach of the Year at Sunday’s awards ceremony.
“I hope it’s not my last manager-of-the-year award,” he said after receiving the prize.
“I will again try to do a good job and be a champion with my team. That is my target and the target of my team, to again take this trophy. It will be important for us to be better than last season. I hope we will be.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
