Mahdi Ali cut a sombre figure immediately following the UAE’s victory against Iraq, a celebratory result on the road to Russia that should have lifted spirits and renewed optimism that a second World Cup appearance was back within reach.
The UAE manager was fielding questions at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium about his future, about whether he would be in charge when his side’s campaign resumed in March. His answer was anything but conclusive.
“We will see what will happen in the future,” he said, before thanking everyone from the Football Association to the fans for their support during the past four years as manager of the most exciting Emirati national team in decades.
It felt like a man on the way out.
Soon, the rumours swirled.
__________________________________
More on UAE v Japan
■ 2018 World Cup qualifying: UAE host crucial match with Japan in Al Ain
■ Mahdi Ali: UAE manager has selection headaches
■ Vahid Halilhodzic: Japan manager keen to 'avoid bad refereeing'
__________________________________
They insinuated Mahdi Ali had told his players before he faced the media that he would not be continuing past that November night, that a journey that began eight years ago with the majority of this group had finally, prematurely, come to an end.
Yet, four months on, Mahdi Ali remains. He has lasted beyond the uncertainty that followed the Iraq victory, lasted past the speculation linking Ivan Jovanovic, Cosmin Olaroiu and even Belgian Marc Wilmots to his position.
Mahdi Ali is here, where he was when the final push for World Cup 2018 reached the halfway stage against Iraq, ready to go again with what constitutes another doubly difficult week ahead.
First Japan on Thursday, then Australia five days later. First, the four-time Asian champions – a record – then the current holders of the continent’s foremost crown.
They are the two teams directly above the UAE in Group B, the two teams between them and leaders Saudi Arabia, all four countries separated by a solitary point with five matches remaining.
So how will the UAE fare in the first two of those?
More intriguingly, how will Mahdi Ali?
Many feel he has as much to prove as his players, if not more. Some anticipated that he would be gone by now.
He was understandably stung by the barrage of criticism he received following the 3-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia in October, when the UAE capitulated and their campaign threatened to derail.
It would have been particularly painful, given all that Mahdi Ali had achieved until that point: unprecedented success at various age-group levels, qualification for the 2012 London Games, the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations title, third at the Asian Cup two years ago.
It all spoke of a manager who, although provided an incredibly talented bunch with which to work, could keep lifting his side to “the next step”. Ultimately, to a place at a World Cup finals.
Admittedly, some of his decision-making and team selection has at times seemed misguided. Towards the end of last year, this final stage of qualification, in which the UAE are striving to emulate that esteemed, old team of Italia ’90, appeared a little too far, despite the astonishing opening victory in Japan.
Mahdi Ali’s dedication to 4-4-2 has been labelled predictable and prosaic, while areas of the squad that required fresh faces have often been neglected, especially at full-back or in midfield. However, publicly at least, his players have never railed against him.
So to Japan and Australia, the impending twin test. Take points from each of those, or perhaps simply one victory from the two matches, and the road to Russia attaches an infinitely more manageable bent.
For the UAE’s manager, it represents another sizeable examination of his ability, particularly given that he has been robbed, through injury or suspension, of several key members of his squad.
Because of all that has gone before, because of the progress and the prizes, those who are available owe Mahdi Ali their very best. That begins from the first whistle against Japan in Al Ain on Thursday.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
