Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic has declared the Boss’ midweek AFC Champions League semi-final exit has made his desire to claim more trophies “greater than ever before”.
The Croatian’s troops saw their hopes of continental glory disappear at the last-four stage on Tuesday, a 2-1 second-leg victory at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal not enough to heal the damage from the first leg.
Al Ain have begun their fragmented Arabian Gulf League campaign well, claiming resounding victories in their only fixtures against Al Wasl and Ajman.
Tonight’s tantalising clash against Al Jazira marks a significant step up in class.
Al Ain have excelled since Dalic took the helm in March, reaching the last four of Asia’s premier club competition and claiming the President’s Cup.
The 47-year-old has no plans to stop there.
He said: “The spirit and my desire to achieve with the team of Al Ain has become greater than ever before, especially after the great support and unlimited support given to everyone here, management, players and fans, in the wake of the team exiting the Champions League.
“This has strengthened my ambitions, with an eye now on all the competitions both domestic and continental.
“We must be proud of this team and what we have achieved to reach the semi-finals of the ACL. I hope to see the same level of support which we enjoyed throughout all our games.”
Jazira and Al Ain are perennial heavyweights of UAE football, claiming three of the last four topflight titles between them.
A summer of impressive transfer dealings sees the pair at the front of the vanguard expected to challenge champions Al Ahli for the AGL crown.
Dalic was fully aware of his impending opponent’s strength, predicting a tough test at a partisan Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
He said: “We have a significant challenge in the season on Sunday facing Al Jazira.
“My team will play a strong game against a tough opponent in Al Jazira; we are two sides competing for positions at the top of the AGL table.
“I will prepare everyone to perform to our best abilities, and while I am aware that football is always reliant on a degree of luck, it is important that we always work as a team because the tasks ahead are not easy.”
Dalic and Gerets have locked horns in the past, with contrasting results.
The latter’s Lekhwiya triumphed 3-2 on aggregate in the 2013 ACL round of 16 while the former was in charge of Al Hilal. Dalic then gained revenge last term, thrashing the Qataris 5-0 in Doha during the group stage.
“I have faced Eric Gerets on several occasions. Some of the moments are happier than others,” he said.
“The other confrontations came during my stay with Al Hilal, but the important thing is that I respect the history of the coach Gerets.
“He is a good addition to Jazira, but I have great confidence in myself. We have to do better to achieve our goals.”
