Ibrahim Diaky believes it is imperative Al Ain win the President’s Cup and do well in the AFC Champions League if they are to salvage their faltering season.
The Boss have endured a disappointing Arabian Gulf League (AGL) campaign, which reached a new low on Thursday night as a 1-0 home defeat to Al Wahda left them sixth, 15 points off leaders Al Ahli.
Despite their worrying AGL form, Al Ain have reached the final of the President’s Cup – where they will face the Red Knights – while their Asian campaign kicks off a week on Wednesday with the visit of Lekhwiya, who confirmed their place in Group C with a 4-1 win over Al Kuwaiti last night.
“It’s not that we are having a bad season, but to save the season we have to win the President’s Cup final, because that’s the only thing we can win now,” Diaky told Sport360°.
“Then we have to do very, very well in Asia because we have the quality, we have the players to do that.
“It’s very important for us and all of us are aware that to make a good season, we have to win the President’s Cup.”
He added: “We are not doing well in the league right now but the season is not finished yet and we are doing well in the President’s Cup, we are in the final.
“You cannot say we are having a bad season, you can say that in the league we are not doing well but we still have the AFC Champions League too, so we have a chance to come back and lift the team back upto a high level.”
This season could have been a lot different for Diaky had he not turned his back on a move to Ahli last summer to join the Boss. Having decided to end his successful nine-year spell with Al Jazira, the midfielder himself revealed a move to the Rashid Stadium was “80 per cent” complete.
And, although he could now be on the verge of winning the domestic double with the Red Knights, Diaky insists he has no regrets about choosing Al Ain.
“I don’t regret it at all,” he said. “When I make a choice, I believe in it and I follow it through. I believe that in the coming months before the season finishes people will see the real face of Al Ain.
“We didn’t start in a good way which made us lose confidence for the rest of the season. I can see there is so much quality in the team and the fans just need to support the players and believe in them to give them confidence.”
Meanwhile, Alex Brosque has revealed he could be back in action for the Boss when they take on Al Nasr at the Al Maktoum Stadium next Friday. Brosque missed the derby defeat to Wahda after injuring his ribs against Dubai on February 6 and despite conflicting medical diagnoses, the Australian says he is on the mend.
