Al Ain ready to continue fine form in ACL semi

Sport360 staff 07:55 16/09/2014
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  • Down to business: Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic (second, right) talks to the press yesterday.

    Zlatko Dalic is convinced Al Ain will extend their magnificent run of AFC Champions League away form when they visit his former club Al Hilal tonight.

    The Boss go into their first ACL semi-final since 2005 on the back of three successive away wins in the competition.

    The last of those was a su­perb 3-1 triumph in Makkah over Hilal’s Saudi rivals, Al Ittihad, which wrapped up a 5-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the last four.

    Dalic, who took over Al Ain in March after just one game of their Asian campaign, will now look to overcome a host of familiar faces and take the Boss into a final against either Western Sydney Wanderers or FC Seoul.

    The Croatian steered Hilal to the Crown Prince Cup and the ACL’s last 16 in 2013, but is confident he has the quality at his disposal to sour those memories with victory at the King Fahad Football Stadium in tonight’s first leg. “For us, the game against Al Hilal will be more intense, after all it is a semi-final,” said the 47-year-old.

    “There are four teams left in com­petition, who are the best teams in Asia, so it will be tough two games.

    “We won our last three away games in the AFC Champions League, and are aware that we will be facing 70,000 loud fans – we are ready for it.

    “I will tell my players that they must concentrate only on the field.

    “I believe in my team and I will try to push them forward and I’m very optimistic about this game.

    “It is a big result for our club and for me personally. To be placed amongst the four best teams in Asia is a superb achievement, but we want more, and I’m confident that we can make an even better result.

    “I know Al Hilal and their players very well, and also they know my style and my work.

    “I respect Al Hilal as a team, but also I respect my players and my current club Al Ain.

    “I believe that we will move forward to the final.”

    Dalic added that there were “no excuses” despite his team having yet to start their domestic compe­tition and their opponents being unbeaten in four Saudi Premier League matches.

    Following tonight’s first leg in Riyadh, the second leg will take place at the Hazza Bin Zayed Sta­dium on Tuesday, September 30. 

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