Al Ain Sports Sector Manager Khalifa Suleiman insists the appointment of Zlatko Dalic has no bearing on head coach Quique Sanchez Flores’ future, but admitted “all possibilities are open”.
Former Al Hilal coach Dalic was confirmed as the Garden City’s new Technical Supervisor at the Khalifa International Stadium, although the length of his contract remained confidential.
The Croat officially started work on Wednesday and will oversee the Boss’ elite academy sides for now, meaning he will have no direct contact with the first-team, reserves or perhaps crucially Sanchez Flores.
However, Dalic has been in a similar position before, having been appointed as reserve team coach at Hilal in May, 2012, seven months before taking over the reins with the first team.
“Mr Zlatko will be the supervisor of all the elite teams in the club’s academy,” Suleiman said. “All possibilities are open to him; but at the moment, for now tentatively he is responsible for supervising the elite teams. Nothing can be said about the first team as of now.
“From the beginning he showed a wish to join Al Ain and I know he is happy to join Al Ain and preferred us to other clubs. We are not sacking the coach, but we are not happy with what has happened.”
Suleiman had used his opening speech at Wednesday’s unveiling to admit the club’s mistakes in handling the succession of former coach Cosmin Olaroiu, who departed for Al Ahli last summer.
The board member apologised to supporters and insisted hard work was the only way out of their current malaise, although he pointedly added the Boss needed to hire “trainers not trainees”.
Dalic’s arrival and his new boss’ assertion that “all possibilities are open” will only add fuel to the rumours of Sanchez Flores’ imminent demise.
Suleiman, though, insisted the 47-year-old’s arrival was not designed to put any added pressure on the club’s head coach.
“I think this step has nothing to do with weakening his (Sanchez Flores’) position or applying any pressure on him because his task is the first team and the reserve team,” he said. “
Zlatko’s task is the academy. We have two separate managements under the club’s umbrella so I think it has nothing to do with his work, but if he thinks it adds pressure to his work it is his own thoughts not ours.”
Suleiman added: “If there is a connection between the two coaches I would like to say there would be no problem, but there should be no contact.”
For his part Dalic, who admitted he had not spoken to Sanchez Flores since accepting the role of Technical Supervisor this week, insisted: “I didn’t come here to give pressure to anybody, I came here to do my job.”
“I was here in front of you one year ago [with Hilal], I am happy to be here again but not as an opponent but as a member of Al Ain Club.
“I know what Al Ain means, it is a big club, I am very happy to be here. Thank you to the club for hiring me and giving me confidence.
“I hope that the young Al Ain teams that work under me will improve.”
The Croat, who turned down offers to stay in Saudi Arabia, added: “If I didn’t believe in myself I would stay at home, but I think I can make a good job with a big club.”
