We are the best team, says Berg

dubai — After being signed up last summer, Marcus Berg had said that Al Ain were the ‘Barcelona or Real Madrid of Asia.’

And after playing a big hand in The Boss winning the Arabian Gulf League for the 13th time, the Swedish international said that Al Ain were the best team this season. “So far, so good. We won the championship so a lot of good feelings and we will now focus on the next target. It was a very good performance from us and I’m very happy,” Berg said after his hat-trick against Al Nasr saw the Garden City club wrap up the League with a game to spare.

“First of all, with all the respect to all the other teams, we are the best team. And I think we showed that almost every game. Even if we had a bad day, we managed to take points. We lost only one game, which was a difficult game for us. In the end, we are the best team and we showed it every game and that’s why we are the champions,” added the 31-yearold. Al Ain’s only loss came against Sharjah in February.

Berg had a slow-burning start to life with Al Ain before stamping his mark. The former Hamburg and Panathinaikos striker is the top goalscorer in the League with 22 goals, and has plundered six goals in the AFC Champions League so far. He also scored one in the Arabian Gulf Cup. Berg, who joined from Greek side Panathinaikos, said that his family settling in well in the country had left him in a good space to concentrate on his football. And he added that he had been proven right in making the move.

“In the beginning, it is always difficult. New country, new teammates, and you need to find the relationship with all the players. Of course, it takes time. Also, outside football, with the family, it is most important to settle down to have everything good outside with the family, with school, etc. So, when all these things fall in place, you can concentrate on the right things, which is football, why I’m here, to play football. The last part of the season has been very good,” he said.

“I focussed on helping the team, first of all, to reach our goals. And now, we have reached one goal and we will continue until the end of the season. We have the President’s Cup and the AFC Champions League.”