The draining Asian Cup efforts of Al Ain’s huge UAE contingent will provide no excuse when they host fellow high-flyers Al Shabab tonight, according to coach Zlatko Dalic.
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Eight Boss players – including new signing Saeed Al Kathiri from Al Wasl – were included in the Whites squad that finished third Down Under.
The extended run in the competition has placed a strain on their domestic duties ahead of the resumption of the Arabian Gulf League, with the international contingent only landing in the UAE late on Sunday night. This issue has been accentuated as leading striker Asamoah Gyan is away with Africa Cup of Nations semi-finalists Ghana.
Second-placed Al Ain will have to be sharp when they face the Hawks, who sit one point and one place behind them in third.
Despite the difficulties, Dalic was thrilled to have a fit Omar Abdulrahman available to him. The playmaker was the star of the Asian Cup but a succession of injuries had restricted him to only two AGL appearances prior to the tournament.
“A victory is always demanded of Al Ain and to provide a strong level,” the Croatian said. “My confidence in all the elements is very large and we cannot look for excuses, whatever the circumstances.
“To have Amoory (Omar Abdulrahman) back to his best enhances the strength of our team, and of course I will be happy if he is ready to face Al Shabab.”
Al Shabab claimed a 1-1 draw with the Boss in the final AGL fixture before the near seven-week break because of the Asian Cup. Caio Junior’s men excelled in the first half of the season, though a defining run of fixtures now faces them.
He said: “We respect Al Ain, but we need to believe that we can beat them. The next three games will be finals for us; against Al Ain, Al Ahli and Al Nasr in a short space of time, but we need to be ready.”
Their cause has been hampered by the suspensions of UAE defensive midfielder Hassan Ibrahim and leading scorer Henrique Luvannor.