Hope to Have El Shahat Onboard in Our Match Against Dibba.. Zoran: History Does Not Recognize Excuses and In Football World It Singles Out Only Winners
“My squad were able to achieve a crucial and deserved win over the visitors, KSA’s Al Hilal,” stated Croatia’s Zoran Mamic, Head Coach of Al Ain FC, in the post-match press conference held following the end of matchround 5 of AFC Champions League. He went on to say: “The confrontation was not easy and if you are after scoring goals in the AFC Champions League you are to redouble your efforts. Indeed, we had countless chances to score in the net of our opponent since the first minute of the match when Omar Abdul Rahman found himself face to face with Al Hilal’s goalkeeper. However, we lost control in the early fifteen minutes, but gradually we were able to come back to the match atmosphere and achieved our pre-set goal.”
Commenting on a question on Al Hilal’s Head Coach’s remarks that Al Ain won the match via three penalty kicks that might be incorrect, he said: “I have not seen the match on TV yet. Still, from my position I saw that they were correct and I believe that it is the referee who was so close and saw the violation as a result of tackling my players. At any rate, if there are mistakes, they are still part of football game. My team also was touched by these mistakes, specifically when Mohammed Abdul Rahman was sent off by a red card.” He pinpointed out: “History will only recognize the winner and tomorrow nobody will mention the referee.”
Responding to a question on El Shahat’s injury that prevented him to play against Al Hilal, he stated: “We hope to have him onboard in the coming match against Dibba scheduled to be held at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in matchround 20 of the Arabian Gulf Cup.” He concluded: “El Shahat had a kick on his ankle during our recent match against Al Jazira and following joining Egypt’s National Team he was hit again in the same place. Currently, he enrolled rehabilitation programs in preparation for his return to play against Dibba.”
