Ah Ahli out to reignite title challenge against rivals Al Ain

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Red hot Chile striker: Carlos Munoz (l) has scored in successive games for Al Ahli.

    Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli are braced for the “maximum” challenge in the division when they host Al Ain tonight, according to coach Cosmin Olaroiu.

    The two giants face off at Rashid Stadium, with the title holders searching for form and the visitors playing catch-up because of the stilted fixture list enforced by their run to the AFC Champions League semi-finals.

    The sides last met in May’s President’s Cup final, the Boss’ 1-0 win denying their opponents a remarkable quadruple.

    The Red Knights have dropped nine points from seven top-flight games this term, Olaroiu citing unspecified “problems” as cause, the latest featuring a 97th-minute equaliser from Luis Jimenez at Al Dhafra last Thursday. This is in stark contrast to their dominant run to the league crown last term, eventually won by 16 points.

    This success was gained in a tum -ultuous first campaign at Ahli for Olaroiu, who controversially chose to defect from the Boss following twin title successes. The decision saw him accused of a breach of contract, handed a six-month ban – which was reduced on appeal – and fined Dh100,000.

    The 45 year old chose to draw a line under the saga this summer, and continued in a respectful tone in his pre-match press conference.

    “Playing against Al Ain I think is the maximum you can play in the league,” he said.

    “It is the strongest opponent we are going to face.

    “To play against Al Ain or Al Jazira, I think it is better to have more time. Fortunately or unfortunately, our team seems to play better in derbies.

    “Other teams when they play against us, they play totally different. Whatever we see in previous games has nothing in common.”

    Al Ain have won four and lost one of their league games this term, the sole defeat coming in the helter-skelter 4-3 reversal at Al Jazira. Enthused by this start, coach Zlatko Dalic insisted his charges were heading to Dubai with victory in their sights.

    He said: “We respect Ahli but we’re going to the stadium and our goal is to win. We are well aware that the confrontation will not be easy, especially as our rival drew in their last match with Dhafra.

    “My confidence is always great in my players. Our preparations have been excellent, enhancing the degree of optimism in the outcome that we can get.”

    Injuries have dominated the build-up to the match for the Boss.

    Star trio Jires Kembo-Ekoko, Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman all missed Wednesday’s 2-1 victory against Emirates Club.

    Dalic was coy when asked whet-her they would be able to feature tonight.

    “We’ll see tomorrow what can happen about the players and the degree of willingness to participate and then can disclose the list that we’re going into the confrontation,” the 47 year old said.

    Opposite number Olaroiu refused to get involved in the debate about availability, being purposefully vague when discussing Ahli’s issues.

    He said: “I cannot talk about Al Ain’s injury problems because we also have injury problems. If you say it’s a good time to play against Al Ain, then I suppose it’s also a good time to play against an Al Ahli without Ciel, Essa Santo, Majed Hassan and Mirel Radoi.”

    He added: “I have another problem, but I cannot say. Whatever I say, they make interpretation – they are big problems, not easy problems.”

    Recommended