When Zlatko Dalic arrived at Al Ain at the beginning of March few thought the club’s season could be repaired.
Flirting with the wrong half of the Arabian Gulf League table and having made a less than stellar start to life in their new Hazza bin Zayed Stadium their campaign was going nowhere.
But under the 47-year-old Croatian, the Boss suddenly found their form, winning 10 of his 15 games in charge to secure a sixth President’s Cup success and their passage to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
Dalic, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, is now enjoying some well-earned rest ahead of his side’s Asian commitments in August but Sport360° caught up with the coach to find out the secret of his success.
How do you assess your two and a half months in Al Ain so far?
Most importantly for us results came into our game and, as time went on, my team played better and better and now we have taken everything that was possible when I came.
Quarter-finals of the Champions League is a big result for the club because in the last eight years the club had not got to that round. Also we won the cup – it is a bad season if Al Ain finishes without a title.
Given the form of the side, and having to adapt to a new country, was it difficult to come in at the time that you did?
I had three years in Saudi so I knew the mentality. I knew that I could change people, players but I must adapt to everything and accept everything at the club. But before me my players were the best and the best team, my team needed only to put in hard work and be given confidence.
This was a big point for me because with my staff I brought confidence to the team, I gave them belief and also my team believed in me and together we made a good job. But it is not only my job, it is the job of all the people at the club and most importantlyboard, who gave me the confidence of the club. Especially (chairman) Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan who stayed behind me and gave me a chance and the time to work.
What was the secret of the change in results?
I can’t speak about the past or coaches before me. I know that Al Ain were back-to-back champions and played very well but the last eight months before me was a bad time for the team.
I don’t know what happened, maybe everything changing, the coach, players, stadium, was not good. I saw that the team were not in a good moment but after the players saw that we could improve and we could win a title, we could reach the Asian Champions League [knockout rounds] then they started to train better.
What does your daily training regime involve?
I know my team was not in good form or fitness but they had quality which is based in a passing game. I insist that we pass, every day we repeat pass, pass, pass and play with two touch, that is my strategy.
My idea is to play very quick football and two-touch. I knew at this moment I didn’t have a team with quick players but we must try to play by passing the ball. I know it is not easy to change things too much but every day my first option was pass.
What I said to the players was that we must look like a team. If you play alone with one guy right and one guy left and stay very far from each other you will have big problems. Now my team have followed me and play together. Against Ahli (in the President’s Cup final) we showed that we can stick together.
What is your football philosophy?
In my career my style is to score more. I am an attacker, I am not a defensive coach. I like offensive teams, I like to play football. I don’t have the style to play defensively and just be strong in defence. Okay, my strategy is that we must play defence – but through attack.
My idea is attacking football and to score goals every time. During my time with Al Ain we have scored a goal in every game. Gyan has scored 20 goals with me in the Champions League, cup and league. That is my style.
How proud are you of your achievements so far with Al Ain?
I am very proud about my time in Al Ain because this achievement is a big result. Maybe three months ago the board didn’t believe that we could achieve everything but we did everything that was possible. Maybe if the league went on for two games more we would have reached third or second position.
But when I started with the team, the team was down without ambition, without a future. I believed that we could do something but to do everything I think this is an amazing result and I am very proud of my players.
What are your ambitions for next season?
My contract has now been extended for two years but I know that results keep me with the team, keep me at the club. I didn’t ask anything about money or big bonuses, only that I needed a chance.
Now I have a chance and my next target, my next goal is to return Al Ain to first position in the Arabian Gulf League. Also in the Champions League I know we can do it and make the next round. It will be difficult because we will now face one of two Saudi teams or a Qatari team.
We will wait for the draw but I know Al Ain people, Al Ain players, Al Ain fans expect big results in all competitions. I know that is very difficult and very hard but I believe we can do it.
