Al Ain ready for Al Ahli

PLAYMAKER WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO AVOID RIVALS

Abdul Rahman says the Boss were destined to meet UAE rivals in Asian Champions League

Al Ain star Omar Abdul Rahman believes the Boss were destined to meet UAE rivals Al Ahli in the last-16 of the AFC Asian Champions League as the line-up for the first knockout stage was confirmed late on Wednesday.

The Garden City club wrapped up their group stage campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Iran’s Naft Tehran at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, ensuring they topped Group C unbeaten with 12 points from their six games.

And with Al Ahli second in Group D, the Arabian Gulf League duo will now go head to head on May 20 and 27, with the Red Knights hosting the first leg in Dubai.

Playmaker Omar would have preferred to have avoided Al Ahli but is now looking forward to the fixture.

Destined

“You can say it is destiny that we are playing Al Ahli,” he said after being named Man of the Match in the win over Naft.

“We were hoping that it would be a different team as there could have been two teams from the UAE in the last eight. But we will try our best and whichever team is better in the two games deserves to go further.”

Al Ain striker Asamoah Gyan was delighted with his team’s performance on Wednesday and felt it was a huge boost to finish at the top of the table.

“We have been doing the right things as a team and it was good to finish with a strong performance here,” said Gyan, who joined Omar and Jires Kembo-Ekoko on the scoresheet.

Al Ain have enjoyed success against Al Ahli this season and the Ghanaian was asked if that would make a difference in their AFC clash. “It’s a good question and a difficult one to answer,” Gyan replied. “Though I can say yes, we will be happy playing against a team that knows us well and whom we know, but it will be challenge.

“All I can say is we have to stay focused.

Keep winning

“We have finished first and that’s what we have to realise. We are a big team and we have to keep winning. No matter if the going gets tough, we have to keep winning.”

Coach Zlatko Dalic said: “We won and I’m very happy as we are on top in the group stage. Twelve points, one more than last season, and again we play against a UAE team.

“It was very hot and we played poorly in the first half, but in the second half we controlled the game. What is important for me is to win the game and it was our first win in the Champions League at home.”

Dalic, who led Al Ain to the semi-finals last year, added: “Our next target is against Al Ahli and then we will think about the stage ahead. I trust my team and I know my team can do it and I’m sure they will shine.”