Under fire Al Ain boss Zlatko Dalic deserves “a bit of respect” after a season of success, star striker Asamoah Gyan has demanded.
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The Boss exited the AFC Champions League at the round-of-16 stage on Wednesday after a bewildering 3-3 second-leg draw to rivals Al Ahli.
This elimination on away goals followed four days after their President’s Cup defence ended in the quarter-finals, leading to disquiet at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium despite a peerless march to the Arabian Gulf League crown.
Dalic has proven an astute leader since he arrived in March 2014, bringing the UAE’s most decorated club back to glory after it struggled badly following Cosmin Olaroiu’s rancorous July 2013 exit. But this has not spared him from speculation following the Asian disappointment.
When asked whether the Croatian – who has one year left on his deal – should stay, Gyan replied: “Why not? He has done an incredible job.
Not the result we wanted. Had hoped we progressed in the Champions League. Bitter exit for our dear club @alainfcae : http://t.co/K9EL9PD38E
— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) May 28, 2015
“We have done well. In the league, we conceded the least goals.
“Defensively, we were better. In our last 16 games, no team had scored two goals against Al Ain.
“We should have completed it in this game, but we couldn’t.
“I think Zlatko has done a good job. He needs a bit of respect.
“If he leaves, it is football. But I do not think he should – he needs a bit of respect.”
On Wednesday, Al Ain took control of a goalless tie through 29-year-old Gyan’s early swept finish. They cruised to half-time, with no sign of what was to come.
In the most uncharacteristic manner, they buckled after the break. Defender Salmeen Khamis was fortunate to deflect striker Ahmed Khalil’s header off his shoulder in the 51st minute to equalise, the latter then firing in a deadly-low finish and tapping in the third by 56 minutes.
A late comeback followed through Gyan’s half-volleyed second and substitute Rashed Essa driven 20-yard finish, but the Boss had left themselves too much to do.
“I am very upset with this result,” said Gyan, who ended an injury-disrupted 2014/15 season with 22 goals from 26 appearances.
“I am a bit frustrated and sad we went out in this manner.
“We conceded silly goals, three goals in five minutes. It is incredible.
“Kudos to Al Ahli. They have done what they could do.
“They qualified [to the knockout stages] in a hard group in a hard way. They have a strong mentality.
“This game was a mind game. The team with a strong mentality carried the game.
“After they equalised, we were down. I do not know why we should be down when it was 1-1.
“If they equalise, we should have kept on playing. They took advantage of us and scored three goals in five minutes – that is incredible.
“For the first time, I am very upset. We can take goals but not silly goals like this.”
