Al Ain manager Zlatko Dalic has rounded against the negativity surrounding the club ahead of Tuesday’s AFC Champions League clash with Pakhtakor.
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The Boss currently top a congested Group B of the continental competition and boast a four-point lead in the Arabian Gulf League. Yet despite those achievements, there has been disquiet following the recent Arabian Gulf Super Cup loss to Al Ahli.
Speaking before the return clash with the Uzbekistan Professional Football League holders, Dalic noted the influence of the high expectations placed on his side as they fight for silverware on several fronts.
He said: “It is a very tough time, a short time with many games. We have to turn our mind to the Champions League. Every three days, we have change in our competition and mindset. But we are a big team and we must expect eveything.
“It is not easy for us because we have had many problems with injuries and suspensions. Each game I have to change the team, not my usual style, but there is no other solution.
“We are top in the Arabian Gulf League and AFC Champions League. Inshallah, we stay top – these are our targets. Our fans and management expect it to be like this. We will do our best.”
Last year’s semi-finalists excelled when the sides met last time out on March 18, a team minus key stars Asamoah Gyan and Omar Abdulrahman securing a highly-creditable 1-0 victory thanks to Miroslav’s Stoch’s thunderbolt. This moved the Boss onto five points from three games in a competitive pool, in which bottom-placed Al Shabab Riyadh are only three points further back.
Al Ain welcome the aforementioned duo back to Asian action, though Stoch begins a four-match suspension following an altercation with an official in Tashkent and defensive midfielder Ahmed Barman is banned for one game.
العين وباختاكور مساء اليوم الساعة 7:15م Today at 7:15PM, Al Ain VS Pakhtakor #الهدف_آسيا_2015 #كلنا_في_استاد_هزاع pic.twitter.com/hhS3l3Y6wX
— Al Ain FC (@alainfcae) April 7, 2015
Pakhtakor are certain to provide testing opposition at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Sherlar have won four, drawn one and lost one of their previous six ACL trips to the UAE and claimed their first victory of the new Uzbek league on Friday. In 21-year-old forward Igor Sergeev, they also boast the brightest young star in their domestic game.
“We understand how strong Pakhtakor are, how difficult a game it will be,” said Boss winger Rashid Essa, who is likey to fill in for the suspended Stoch. “The group is wide open, but Inshallah we will get a positive result which will provide a big step to makling the last 16.”
This fixture pits first versus second, but Pakhtakor coach Samvel Babayan insisted a signficant contrast in approach exists between the combatants.
He said: “Our philispophy is to play with players who graduate through our academy – our team is very young. Al Ain’s philosophy is to invite good foreign players, like Stoch and Gyan. We will not play for a draw. We came to the UAE only for victory.”
