Head coach Zlatko Dalic has vowed to take the fight to Asian Champions League rivals Tractor Sazi on Tuesday night, as he prepares for his first home game in charge of Al Ain.
The 47-year-old Dalic was named Quique Sanchez Flores’ replacement last week, after the Spaniard left the struggling Arabian Gulf League champions by mutual consent.
The Croatian got off to a losing start in his only match thus far, also in the ACL, when his side surrended the lead in a 2-1 away defeat at Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad last week.
Al Ain currently sit third in Group C, a point and two places behind their next opponents. And Dalic has promised a positive approach when he welcomes the leaders of Group C to Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.
“We will play in our stadium in front of our fans, we have no choice, we must play in an attacking way with pressure,” he said.
“My team will play with heart. They will be ready, and they have a desire to win the game after losing 2-1 [at Al Ittihad].
“We must be careful as Tractor have some very fast players. We can be punished if everyone goes forward. We have to be careful, but our target will be to attack.”
Dalic was named as Sanchez Flores’ successor on March 8, three days after beginning a role at the club’s academy and Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa said the players have to take up the responsbility to help ensure the new boss is a success.
“In the short time, he has added something as each coach has their own unique system,” he said. “The major part comes from the players, as we will try our hardest to make sure coach Zlatko gets us through this period.”
Dalic was boosted by the return of key midfielder Omar Abdulrahman last week, after he ended a seven-week spell on the sidelines with a late cameo off the bench.
Despite the need for a strong result, the former Al Faisaly and Al Hilal coach urged caution when it came to the star playmaker.
Dalic said: “Omar Abdulrahman will not start the game – but my team needs Omar. He can help us, but we must be patient with him. I do not want him to get injured again.
“We must prepare him for the future, and the end of the season.”
Al Ain will be without the injured Khaled Abdulrahman and Ali Al Wehaibi against the Iranians. Midfielder Ahmed Barman also misses out, through suspension, after receiving his second booking of the competition against Ittihad.
Those available should come up against veteran midfielder Ali Karimi, who has gained 127 caps for Iran and had a spell at German giants Bayern Munich earlier in his career.
“Karimi will come back into the team [after missing Tractor’s ACL draw with Lekhwiya through suspension],” Dalic said. “He is a big and famous player.
“We will prepare everything for Karimi. He can play on the ball and organise the team. “He is a big player, but my team has more big players.”
