Gyan determined to prove his worth

Denzil Pinto 19:31 04/09/2016
Gyan shocked the AGL by signing for Al Ahli.

Asamoah Gyan has apologised to Al Ain after donning the red of Al Ahli as he hopes to prove to himself that he’s still one of the most lethal strikers after a disappointing spell in China.

The 30-year-old completed a season-long loan deal with the Red Knights on Wednesday, from Shanghai SIPG, 12 months after scoring 128 goals in 123 matches in a hugely-profitable four-year stay with The Boss.

But the Ghana captain was unable to replicate his fine form in the Chinese Super League, finding the back of the net just seven times in a season plagued by a series of injuries.

Having returned to the UAE, Gyan is confident he can his rediscover his scoring touch with the Arabian Gulf League (AGL) champions.

“I’m here to prove myself once again because the expectations are much higher,” Gyan told reporters Sunday at Rashid Stadium. “People will be expecting me to do what I did four years ago. I cannot say I’m perfect but I’m here to work as a team and with new team-mates.

“I’ll work hard to achieve what I want to achieve at Ahli. I cannot do this alone. With the quality we have at the club, I think we can achieve what we want to achieve. I want to help them to do more than just expectations.”

The three-time AGL top-scorer, who revealed he has spoken to some of his former Al Ain team-mates after making the switch to their title rivals, added: “I’d like to say sorry to the Al Ain fans. We had a great relationship for four years, but it was rather unfortunate I couldn’t come back to Al Ain as people expected.

“But this is part of life, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Right now, I have a new challenge, I need to focus on my career and do what I do best, which is to score goals.”

He admits his time in China was frustrating, and with Ahli opening their AGL title defence against Emirates on September 17, the ex-Rennes and Sunderland forward insists the club will decide when he makes his debut.

“There were some mistakes when I was in China and I don’t want to repeat those mistakes again,” he added.

“When I was in the UAE, I was almost playing every game and was moving a lot. But I made a couple of mistakes, that I don’t want to make again. So I want to listen to the staff and see what they have to say and I will not decide on my own. The staff will decide when I’m ready to play.”

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Gyan had been set for a move back to England with Reading, and while he denied he failed a medical with the Championship outfit, the opportunity to reunite with coach Cosmin Olaroiu again, having worked together in Al Ain, was one he could not turn down.

“I’m happy to be back home and be part of Al Ahli family,” he said. “I’m coming to work with staff who knows me much better. We have worked together at Al Ain and are working together right now.

“I’m very happy to work with Cosmin. For me, we had a very good relationship in two years. When Cosmin is on the field, he’s very tough. He likes to get the job done.

“Outside the field, he’s a nice man and a great man. One of the greatest men I’ve ever met and I felt so confident when I was with him.”

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