Mohannad Salem insists Al Ain are not simply content with the honour of participating in the AFC Champions League but have ambitions of challenging for a second continental title.
The Boss’ Champions League hopes have reached a critical point on the eve of an historical clash with Saudi Arabia giants Al Hilal on Monday.
Both sides have tasted Asian success in the competition’s various guises, with Hilal victorious in the Asian Club Championship in 1991 and lifting it again in 1999/2000.
Al Ain hoisted the Champions League trophy in 2003 but both occupy the bottom two spots in Group D going into the final two games of this stage, with Iran’s Esteghlal and Qatar’s Al Rayyan joint top.
Zoran Mamic’s side have drawn all four games so far and sit third, two points adrift of the top two. And UAE veteran Salem knows it is crunch time for his side in the Garden City on Monday night.
“We are ready and motivated and the goal of Al Ain in the Champions League is not limited to just the honor of participating,” said the 33-year-old centre-back.
“Our ambition is to win the title and emerging from the group stage only will not satisfy us. I hope that we reach the final and win the title and I hope to have the strong support of the fans tomorrow as we welcome Al Hilal because the fans are an important element of the team.”
If Al Ain are in a precarious situation, visitors Hilal’s chances of progression are on life support following two defeats and two draws in their opening four games.
Only victory will do for Juan Brown’s side, who have lost two of the last four finals – including being defeated 1-0 by Japan’s Urawa Reds a year ago and going down by the same scoreline to Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014, having beaten the Boss in the semi-finals.
