Zlatko Dalic’s defence was laid out for all to see, the Al Ain coach running through his record as his contract quickly ran out of time.
“Sorry if I speak too much,” he said. “But it’s from my heart.”
That much was clear. Dalic had been asked on the eve of the President’s Cup final about his future, an obvious query that drew an impromptu and impassioned response.
Fire stoked, he listed his achievements during two and a half years in the Garden City: one Arabian Gulf League title, President’s Cup success, the Super Cup, the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League, not to mention the potential to go farther later this year.
“I’m not Superman,” he said. “What can I do? What they want from me?”
See more on Al Ain:
• John McAuley: Zlatko Dalic agrees new one-year Al Ain deal to end doubts over future
• John McAuley: Zlatko Dalic may stay on after Al Ain board dissolved following car commercial row
• John McAuley: Al Jazira edge Al Ain on penalties to win President's Cup
The following day, after his side lost on penalties to Al Jazira and with his Al Ain contract apparently expired, Dalic detailed plans to rest with family before taking a decision as to what he did next.
“This is my club,” he said. “If I leave I’m really proud of my time here. I will stay ‘Ainawi’ forever.”
That affiliation now seems set to deepen, with Dalic agreeing to a new one-year deal on Tuesday. He had other offers, from clubs within the UAE and outside, but a chain of unlikely events paved the way for an extension, for another go at restoring Al Ain to the summit of football not just in the country but on the continent, too. It is a wise decision, all around.
The news met with considerable opposition on social media, little more than a week after '#thankyouzlatko' was trending on Twitter, but Dalic represents the best balm to a turbulent time at Al Ain. Last week, the club board was dissolved and its replacement is yet to be instated, although the hierarchy will seek to act fast given what is at stake. Confirming Dalic was the first step on that road.
In 10 weeks’ time, Al Ain contest the first leg of the Asian Champions League quarter-final, a competition that remains priority since they became its only UAE winners back in 2003, a competition that has opened up to such an extent that Al Ain recognise this is a golden opportunity to reclaim the title. With Dalic in charge, they have minimised the upheaval, reduced the risk in appointing the wrong guy at completely the wrong time.
The new board will need to act swiftly in the transfer market as well, and it appears Dalic will be given more authority to avoid the misguided acquisitions that blighted last season. His detractors will point to a relinquishing of their Arabian Gulf League title to Al Ahli and the final defeat to Jazira, but Dalic had to balance domestic commitments with safe passage in Asia. Al Ain still finished second in the league. They were the better team against Jazira in the cup, helped no doubt by his decision to introduce Ibrahim Diaky in the second half, but were outdone in the lottery of a shoot-out.
Dalic is often derided as nothing more than a safe hand, a capable-but-not-exceptional coach who is fortunate to manage a hugely talented squad. However, he is more than that. He has guided Al Ain to significant success even despite Ahli’s recent lavish spend and his own club’s relative frugality, and he is trusted by the majority of his players. Unlike some of his peers, Dalic does not court controversy, takes no delight in drama.
Make no mistake, Al Ain have been as good for Dalic as Dalic has been for them; as he says, they lifted him from comparative obscurity and let him build his name. With the new contract agreed, that reputation has been granted the chance to climb further. Al Ain have made the correct call considering the forthcoming Champions League. Dalic’s success, though, is dependent on Al Ain’s in that.
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