Zlatko Dalic has denied he is interested in managing Croatia and instead reiterated his commitment to Al Ain.
The Croat, 48, has been linked with a return to his homeland after Niko Kovac was dismissed as coach last week following a poor run of results in 2016 European Championship qualifying. Croatia, third in Group H with two matches remaining, are at risk of failing to advance to the finals.
Dalic has been touted as a potential replacement for Kovac because his stock remains high in Croatia. Between 2006 and 2011, he was assistant manager of the national team’s Under 21 side.
Dalic joined Al Ain in February 2014, originally as a technical director, before succeeding Quique Sanchez Flores the following month. The former Al Hilal coach says he is focused on his role with the UAE champions, although he did not rule out managing Croatia in future.
“I have my job here, and so I stop rumours about the situation,” he said. “All my focus is on my club. From my first day in this country, I have been happy.
“My target is to do my job here. Inshallah, I will stay here for a long time. This is a country I love. I have time for the national team; I am too young for the national team. All my focus is here.”
During his time in the Garden City, Dalic has guided Al Ain to the 2014 President’s Cup and last season’s Arabian Gulf League title. He also led the club to the semi-finals of the 2014 Asian Champions League – their best performance in nine years. His contract with Al Ain will run out at the end of the current season.
Meanwhile, Dalic has urged Al Ain supporters to back loan signing Emmanuel Emenike. The Nigerian arrived this summer on a one-year deal from Fenerbahce as successor to Asamoah Gyan, the prolific striker who transferred to China’s Shanghai SIPG in July.
Gyan, a three-time Golden Boot winner, scored 95 goals in 83 league matches for Al Ain, placing significant pressure on Emenike. However, he has started well: Sunday night’s match-winning double in the 2-0 victory against Al Wasl took his tally to four goals in three competitive games for Al Ain.
Dalic said: “We have to forget Gyan. He left and Emenike is here. He scored two goals again. Sure, he has a hard job to replace Gyan, but he scored two goals.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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SERIE A FIXTURES
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Juventus v Hellas Verona (11.45pm)
Monday AC Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
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Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
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Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
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Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
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India (playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami
South Africa (squad): Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
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Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
