Al Ain have not wrapped up the Arabian Gulf League title race, warns coach Zoran Mamic

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  • Al Ain players celebrate with the travelling fans at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

    Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic has told his troops they’ve won nothing yet, despite taking a giant stride towards the Arabian Gulf League’s title with victory in the ‘Al Clasico’ at Al Jazira.

    Another dominant display saw The Boss restore the four-point advantage secured with victory in the preceding summit meeting against Al Wahda. 2016 AFC Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman struck two set-pieces days after his UAE snub and summer buy Marcus Berg moved onto 20 goals as a 3-2 victory was gained at last season’s sinking champions, for whom Brazilian forward Romarinho and another high-profile UAE exile in Ali Mabkhout notched consolations.

    Saturday’s result means a maximum six points are required from their remaining three fixtures for the nation’s most-decorated club to secure a first top-flight crown since 2014/15 – and 13th overall. No matter this commanding position headed into the international break, Mamic is taking nothing for granted.

    He said: “We can say that the team has taken a good step in the challenge of competing for the title, but we have to be careful and move forward with the intelligence required because we have three rounds left with nine points. Each game will be more important than the previous.

    “We are also facing very important challenges in the AFC Champions League and the President’s Cup. Indeed, the victory over Al Jazira has enabled us to get only three points.

    “We have not been awarded the league title.”

    A negative was the injury suffered by outstanding January loanee Hussein El Shahat. Mamic could offer no answer to whether the midfielder would be fit enough to earn a first full cap for World Cup 2018 qualifiers Egypt in the coming weeks.

    He said: “The player will be subjected to magnetic radiation after a strong kick in the ankle during the day and we await medical reports to determine the size of the injury.”

    Omar Abdulrahman's new trademark celebration was wheeled out in Abu Dhabi.

    Omar Abdulrahman’s new trademark celebration was wheeled out in Abu Dhabi.

    Dibba Al Fujairah are next welcomed to Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on April 6. The lowly Fishermen inflicted a shock 2-1 defeat in this fixture last February, making Mamic’s second game in charge a painful one following his controversial defection from Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

    “Our game in the next round is more difficult, despite the difference between Al Jazira and Dibba Al Fujairah,” the ex-Croatia international said.

    “I remember last season when I took charge of the team. The first loss with Al Ain was Dibba at home, and among our fans, 2-1.

    “At home, it was one of our worst games of the season.”

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