Big decisions lie ahead for Al Ain after the defence of their Arabian Gulf League title was surely brought to an end by Al Ahli. In a microcosm of their 2015/16 campaign, the Boss were second best throughout Thursday’s top-of-the-table showdown.
Damningly for a must-win game, there was no concerted attempt to force a leveller to UAE star Ahmed Khalil’s unmarked header. A chasm has opened up between the UAE’s premier sides which is bigger than the current six-point gap with three games left.
How can it be bridged? As with the usual impatience around clubs in the Middle East, fingers are pointing at coach Zlatko Dalic. But to believe a change in the dugout will cure all the club’s ails is to deepen the malaise. The rot has spread much further than that.
This concession has been inevitable since the purse strings were tightened during the summer transfer market. Dalic’s rapidly-expiring contract makes the Croatian vulnerable, despite delivering a 13th championship success last term plus 2014’s President’s Cup triumph and run to the AFC Champions League semi-finals.
He is not blameless, befuddling tactical changes at Rashid Stadium contributing to a docile display. Yet he has made few false steps during his two-year tenure. Finding another coach with his record of success in the UAE is not a simple task.
Before his March 2013 arrival, managers of the renown of current Watford supremo Quique Sanchez Flores failed to fill the gap left by Cosmin Olaroiu – now about to lift his second AGL crown in three seasons at Ahli. There are also lessons to be learned from the champions elect, no matter how unwelcome they’ll be.
A far-graver domestic disaster befell them in 2014/15, going from runaway champions to dismal seventh-placed finishers. The nadir came with a 4-0 home thrashing by Al Wasl in February 2015. There looked no way back for Olaroiu, less than a year since he’d been denied a historic quadruple during his debut season in Dubai.
Progression to the ACL quarterfinals – during an eventual run to the final – at Al Ain’s expense helped. But many other clubs would have pulled the plug during the summer, regardless. Instead the show of faith from the decision makers at the Rashid to issue a contract extension has been rewarded handsomely.
Using that example, Dalic has proved he is worth a second chance.
Among the immediate candidates to replace him if he is ditched, Denmark legend Michael Laudrup remains out of work since he acrimoniously quit Lekhwiya once the 2014/15 Qatar Stars League crown was earned.
Brazil’s World Cup 2002-winning boss Luiz Felipe Scolari could become available as the recriminations continue about Guangzhou Evergrande’s appalling ACL defence. But can either offer a guaranteed route to recovery when the difference in ambition between Ahli and Al Ain is factored in?
During the last year, the Red Knights have scooped up lethal striker Lima from Benfica, lavished a record €17 million (Dh70.5m) on forward Moussa Sow and splashed Dh60m on excellent UAE defensive midfielder Khamis Esmail. In contrast, their rivals from the Garden City have been shopping in the bargain bin.
There can be no arguments about the €20m (Dh82.9m) sale of past-it talisman Asamoah Gyan to Shanghai SIPG. The recriminations begin about how little of this windfall has been reinvested.
Last summer’s headline acquisitions of bad boys Emmanuel Emenike and Ryan Babel proved predictably disastrous, the latter winger’s loan spell being terminated in January and the former being more notable for his many indiscretions off the pitch.
Their winter replacements were also bought on the cheap. Striker Douglas has scored 12 times in 14 games, but €2.5m (Dh10m) Colombian winger Danilo Asprilla is wildly erratic.
This contrast in spending has ensured Dalic has been fighting a losing battle all along. Nothing will change until the club’s coffers are opened up again.
After all the progress enjoyed under him, the Croatian deserves to be backed with cash to reinvigorate the Al Ain squad rather than ungratefully let go.
