Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. When coach Zlatko Dalic lifted the coveted President’s Cup trophy on Sunday night , the Croatian’s task to help Al Ain rediscover their lost identity as UAE’s pre-eminent football force was complete.
The Boss swept all before them in Cosmin Olaroiu’s two seasons in charge, but the coach’s controversial summer defection to Sunday's vanquished foes Al Ahli had unsettled the balance.
The Romanian left a void in the Garden City that successor’s Jorge Fossati and Quique Sanchez Flores proved unable to fill. Dalic has tapped in perfectly to the old spirit, eliciting a fearsome response from the crowd in the final as he urged them to get behind their heroes at the death.
Olaroiu’s influence had been so complete that two-time defending champions Al Ain had become also-rans, mid-table bystanders in Ahli’s run to Arabian Gulf League and Arabian Gulf Cup success.
The season-ending President’s Cup was their opportunity to reassert themselves as the heavyweight club, derailing the Red Knights’ quest for a historic domestic treble.
There was no sign of Ahli’s dominance, with Al Ain deserved winners following the unstoppable Asamoah Gyan’s first-half tap in.
Abdulrahman brothers, Omar and Mohamed, plus Ibrahim Diaky, linked up adroitly in midfield, causing an uncomfortable night for Foreign Player of the Year nominee Hugo Viana.
In defence, Ismail Ahmed was a rock. Dalic’s introduction in March, ostensibly as a technical supervisor, was unheralded. Little was expected then, but much has been achieved.
A pair of fully-deserved 2-1 victories saw Al Ain past Jazira in the AFC Champions League, progression to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006 an achievement that eluded even Olaroiu. The biggest test awaited them at a sticky Zayed Sports City, the cavernous venue reverberating with ceaseless chanting from the travelling Al Ain supporters.
Those fans have grown used to seeing their beloved team lift silverware over the years. Much of this campaign has been a culture shock, a most unwelcome surprise.
From kick off, the usual order was restored. Omar Abdulrahman, quiet by his lofty standards for much of the season because of injury and indifference, was inspired. Buzzing around the pitch, ably supported in his quest to unseat the Red Knights by brother Mohamed.
The now fired-up playmaker began the match with a foul from kick off, covering every blade of grass in the closing stages. It is Dalic’s most notable long-term achievement that he has Omar Abdulrahman back to his best.
If the undoubtedly impending offers from Europe are rebuffed, the gifted 22-year-old will need to lead the Boss’ drive to reclaim the AGL title next term.
As is their tradition, the final minutes of the match saw the Al Ain fans shine their mobile phones from the stands. In Dalic, they have a coach who has lit up Emirates’ most successful club once again.
