Mamic asks unsettled Khalil to stay at Al Ain
Manager also in talks with club on extension of his contract
Unsettled national team striker Ahmad Khalil came on as substitute in the last 20 minutes for Al Ain and got his name on the board after guiding in Omar Abdul Rahman’s pass during injury time to seal a 4-0 win against Al Nasr on Saturday and seal the Arabian Gulf League title.
However, the Dubai-born striker has been struggling to make an impact after being offloaded mid-season by Al Jazira. Rumours have since been making the rounds that Khalil may return to his childhood club at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai for the next season.
“I have already asked him to stay on,” was Al Ain manager Zoran Mamic’s swift response when asked about Khalil.
On a personal front, Mamic has also been in talks with the club management on an extension of his contract.
“I have not been secretive about the fact that it is my wish to stay on with Al Ain,” he said.
“But I am not alone. There are two sides to the talks. We have been negotiating and we will find a way to close the deal. I have always said that I want to stay here.
“I feel this is my family, where there is positive energy despite all the problems you have while dealing with 25 to 30 good players. Of course there are going to be problems, and these are solved inside the dressing room. It is never easy for me as a coach.
There are two sides to the talks. We have been negotiating and we will find a way to close the deal. I have always said I want to stay here.” Ahmad Khalil » Al Ain manager
Feeling good
“But at the end of the day, I am the one who makes the decisions. I stay honest and fair and I feel very good at this moment. Perhaps, you should speak with the players and ask them if they feel good about me.”
The coach announced that he gave his team Sunday off before meeting for regular training to start preparations for their President’s Cup semifinal against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in Abu Dhabi, on April 25. “That semi-final will give us some extra pleasure and joy,” Mamic said.
“It is better to live in the positive than negative. There are two more competitions and we need to do our best to win both,” he added.