Insisting on Keeping El Shahat With the Squad Despite the Saudi Clubs’ Offers.. Zoran: Fully Confident in the Players’ Quality Potentials in the Coming Confrontation Against Al Fujairah

Press

Zoran Mamic opened the pre-match press conference dedicated for the Boss’ match against Al Fujairah FC in round 5 of the Arabian Gulf Cup by highlighting the importance of maintaining the team’s excellent record of results in this competition and as a significant opportunity for Al Ain’s reserved team players to have their names in the starting VI of the first team.

He added: “Al Fujairah is good team and our match against them will not be an easy mission, given that we are playing on their turf and among their fans. Also, not to forget that they play with full squad while we are missing our “international” players. However, I have full confidence in the players I will select to defend the Boss’ logo in this coming match.”

“Certainly, Monday’s match is completely different from the past match of the league. Despite missing the majority of the team’s key players, we have a clear-crystal target, that is to qualify to the quarter final stage by winning the home team and back to our fort with three points in hand with all due respect to the aspirations of the opponent,” he said in response to a question on the expected impact of holding Al Ain to a draw in the two teams’ recent league match on this coming match.

On certain media reports stating that El Shahat has recently received offers from a number of Saudi Arabia clubs, he stated: “El Shahat is one of the key players in the Boss squad who is capable of carrying out all his defensive and offensive roles professionally. He enjoys an elite fighting spirit, speed and high caliber skills and on top of all of these he is a professional and committed player who you cannot compensate easily. I have already passed my recommendations to the senior management that I am in deep need for his services following receiving phone calls from a number of friends in the Saudi League asking about his status and whether if I am still planning to keep him in the team or not.”

He went on to say: “It happens sometimes that a player’s performance declines for certain reasons, and this means we need to provide him with the required care and attention and to enroll him in special programs to help him recover and be back to his normal level. I believe that considering other options in such a stage is not acceptable at all, especially when this player is the one who could make the difference, in view of his individual high skills, collective playing spirit, his professionalism, his tactical commitment and playing in more than one position as per the coach’s vision and needs of the team. I have no doubt that El Shahat is the best professional Arab player in the league and the region as well.”

Commenting on a question that Al Ain has already contracted with Doumbia and Robin who are the potential substitutes for El Shahat, he said: “First of all, we are still waiting for the official announcement of contracting with the two players following the completion of their registration processes in the team’s lists. Secondly, the idea of replacing El Shahat by one of the two players is not consistent with the team’s technical requirements, simply because Doumbia plays as a center back and center midfielder, while Robin is a center attacking midfielder.” Zorn signed off by underlining that El Shahat has completely different roles as he plays in two positions: right back and right winger.