Stoch out to help Al Ain boss Asia & UAE

Martyn Thomas 06:47 10/07/2014
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  • Signing complete: Miroslav Stoch with head coach Zlatko Dalic (l) and team supervisor Mohammed Obeid Hammad

    Miroslav Stoch wants to help Al Ain win more silverware in his short stint at the club.

    Stoch became the Boss’ third signing of the summer, joining Lee Myung-joo and fellow loanee Rashed Essa, when he completed his 12-month switch from Turkish giants Fenerbahce last Saturday.

    It is hoped the Slovakian can pro­vide the pace and skill coach Zlatko Dalic has asked for out wide, and the club have postponed a friendly scheduled for today (Thursday) by 24 hours to give Stoch more time to bed in with his new team-mates.

    The 24-year-old met his col­leagues for the first time at their Montecatini Terme training base on Tuesday and is keen to make a good first impression.

    “I’m so excited to start with Al Ain,” said the former Chelsea man, who turned down offers from sev­eral clubs in the Gulf to join the Garden City outfit.

    “I have wide aspirations for the coming days as I know well the challenges waiting for Al Ain. I’m so excited to help the team to win more trophies and cups. I have good information about Al Ain, not much, but I know Al Ain is one of the best clubs in the UAE and Asia. I wish to adapt with the team soon to succeed well, which needs dou­ble efforts.”

    Dalic made no secret of his desire for a tricky winger as he prepares his side for their AFC Champions League quarter-final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad next month.

    “I spoke to Stoch about some issues and I expect a lot from him,” he said. “I told him we are aiming to win the quarter-final of the ACL, so I wish to get him into the team quickly and everyone will help him too.”

    On Dalic’s assessment, Stoch added: “I think it is great when peo­ple speak good about you and Zlatko is from Croatia, near my country so I will do my best to be close to him.

    “He knows well why he wanted me for Al Ain and I will work hard to meet the expectations of the management and the fans.”

    Stoch joins Lee and Asamoah Gyan as the club’s confirmed for­eigners for next season while Jires Kembo Ekoko continues to train with the team in Italy.

    No official statement has been made by the club on the former Rennes forward, but he will be giv­en the chance to impress before Al Ain return to the UAE, when it will be decided whether he is retained 

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