Dalic certain the Boss remain on track

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Point of principle: Zlatko Dalic.

    Al Ain’s seriously disrupted preseason training camp will not have a negative bearing on their 2016 AFC Champions League hopes, according to boss Zlatko Dalic. The Boss have endured imperfect preparations in Austria for a quarter-final double header against Lokomotiv Tashkent.

    After a failure to agree an early release of their eight-strong UAE contingent from a month-long spell in Spain and seeing two friendlies hampered by severe weather, a decision has been made to return to the UAE on Wednesday rather than August 15.

    This is in stark contrast to their imminent opponents, who boast a five-point lead at the top of the ongoing Uzbekistan Professional Football League. But despite the chaos ahead of August 23’s opening leg at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Dalic remains unruffled.

    “We decided to return at the same time as the international players to give the whole team rest before supplementary preparations to face Lokomotiv begin,” he told his club’s official website.

    “Them being with us in the camp for two days or three days will not achieve the desired goal and possibly cause them to become exhausted. I have a very great confidence in my players. We must now look to our continental ambitions.”

    The Arabian Gulf League runners- up wrap up their European commitments on Tuesday with a clash against Slovenia’s FC Koper. Meanwhile, Al Ain yesterday finally announced the composition of their new boards.

    His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice-chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and vice-president of the Boss, dismissed the Al Ain Football Club Company and Al Ain Investment Company leadership on June 1 after a controversial television advert was aired.

    Ghanim Al Hajeri has become chairman of the Football Club Company and Ahmed Al Mazroui vice-president. Mohammed Obaid Hammad has been promoted from team supervisor to board member, where he is joined by Sultan Rashid Al Kalbani and Ali Msarri.

    Recommended