Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic has claimed he is facing a battle against time on the training ground to get his team in condition to claim the coveted AFC Champions League crown.
Last weekend’s pulsating first leg at South Korean giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ended in a 2-1 loss, with Colombian winger Danilo Asprilla striking a valuable away goal. This means a 1-0 win at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday would be enough to end a 13-year wait to add another continental title.
The UAE’s only winners of the trophy recommenced workouts at Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium on Monday. This followed a disrupted run-up to the first leg, with their four-strong Whites contingent landing in Jeonju three days before the opening skirmish after World Cup 2018 qualifying duty.
“For the AFC Champions League, five days is not enough,” bemoaned Dalic. “But what can I do?
“I have fought for 10 months like this, without my players. It is a tough job, tough time. But I will do my best.”
Asprilla’s half-volley arced unconventionally into the top corner on 63 minutes after sharp work from key playmaker Omar Abdulrahman.
This gave the Boss a surprise 1-0 lead at a bouncing Jeonju World Cup Stadium covered in partisan green banners, only for danger man Leonardo to curl in a sumptuous 20-yard strike and convert a penalty to salvage the host’s hopes of adding to their 2006 success.
For Dalic, who has lifted the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League and 2014 President’s Cup since joining two-and-a-half years ago, this left the tie delicately poised.
“I say 50/50,” the 50-year-old said. “We have a chance, but it will be tough, tough game.
“We will need to be very patient. I expect 25,000 Ainawy and all our country behind us, pushing like the Jeonbuk fans.”
Dalic admitted he had been left impressed by opponents who were long-time leaders of the 2016 K League Classic, before a bribery scandal related to an incident three years ago caused a critical nine-point deduction.
He said: “They are a very, very strong team – a compact team. But it will be very different game at home.
“Also, they have two very fast players on the left and right wings [two-goal Leonardo and Ricardo Lopes]. They can do everything by counter-attack, we have to be very, very careful.
“They are a very strong team. But we are in final.”
