Al Ain are concentrating their energies on tonight’s Arabian Gulf League trip to Ajman despite the distraction of their imminent AFC Champions League semi-final decider, according to coach Zlatko Dalic.
The meeting with the Orange Brigade comes with next Tuesday’s crunch meeting at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal looming, a tie in which they face the mammoth task of turning around a 3-0 first-leg defeat.
Dalic said: “It is two games in two different competitions and both require a certain focus. Therefore, our focus at the present time is pos-itioned towards the face of Ajman because it is an important game within the challenge of competing for the title of the league championship, and afterwards, we will think about the AFC Champions League.”
Al Ain could welcome back Mohammed Fawzi for the match with Ajman. The summer signing from Bani Yas has returned to training after recovering from the injury he picked up minutes into making his debut off the bench in last month’s ACL quarter-final first leg against Al Ittihad.
Dalic could also be tempted to replace goalkeeper Khalid Essa and give substitute Dawoud Sulaiman some game time, with the former suspended for the tie with Hilal.
“I was happy with the three points [against Al Wasl] but I was not satisfied with the performance of the team. We must show that sophisticated level during our next game in front of Ajman,” Dalic said.
“We are embarking on a tough match against a team of Ajman, but I have great confidence in all of the team who are working in earnest to deliver their best.
“I certainly would play Fawzi Fayez in his [suspended Mohamed Ahmed’s] position at right back in front of Ajman, and Mohammed Fawzi is also a player who knows how to play in this place. However, he has not reached the degree of readiness completely yet – my confidence is very large in Fayez.”
