Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic has admitted he faces a tough task to boost his players for the domestic challenges ahead after the Boss' painful AFC Champions League semi-final exit.
The Croatian's side claimed a deserved 2-1 victory against Al Hilal at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday night, Lee Myung-joo and Jires Kembo-Ekoko on target. This result saw them fall valiantly short, going out 4-2 on aggregate after a disastrous 10-minute spell in Riyadh during the first leg created a 3-0 deficit.
Minus that short but costly period, the Boss have excelled in Asia's premier club competition this year. Dalic is aware he must now nurse his squad's morale to ensure they can continue their perfect start to the Arabian Gulf League season, a heavyweight clash against Al Jazira on Sunday looming.
“I know everyone lives for the final, lived for this game, so it won’t be easy to lift my team,” he said. “But I’ve been together with my team nine months, we’ve reached the Champions League semi-final and everyone must be happy with this.
“Yes, we wanted more but sometimes this isn’t possible. I will try to do my best, but I’m disappointed too.
"We expended a lot of energy and emotion in this game and it will be difficult to pick up our players. But we must see now in the future and prepare for our league.
"I’m sorry because we lost our chance for the final in first game in Riyadh."
Tuesday's match saw star striker Asamoah Gyan dismissed on 70 minutes for a scything two-footed tackle from behind shortly after Hilal levelled on the night. He then repeatedly refused o leave the pitch, irate at the actions of another Hilal player in the aftermath.
Dalic refused to condemn the Ghana international for his loss of control, citing "high emotions" linked to such a key tie.
The 47 year old said: "I know its big emotion, everybody outside and inside the game, it’s not easy.
"We don’t need a red card, especially because now he’ll be out. But this is the game, it was high emotion."
