Khalil and Berg Participation is Uncertain.. Zoran: Our Match Against Sharjah Will Not Be Easy
Zoran Mamic, Croatia’s Head Coach of Al Ain First Football Team, emphasized that his team’s mission in the next round of the league against Sharjah will not be easy. “Since the new technical staff of the opponent’s team has assumed their responsibilities, the team is progressing very well in terms of results and performance and wining their recent away match against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai by 1-0 is a proof of that,” said he. He pointed out: “Certainly, Sharjah has a number of dangerous players and I believe that both teams know each other so well. However, we are required to redouble our efforts and do our best to back home with the three points in hand.”
“Personally, I cannot talk about the conditions of the opposing team, because I am not their coach,” responded he to a question on the fluctuation of Al Sharjah team’s performance. He added: “It is a fact that the team is a strong one in the pitch. In the first leg match held in Al Ain, Sharjah created lots of problems to us and made use of the massive mistakes committed by Al Ain players and even we played the match with two players down due to red cards.”
On the Al Ain’s loss against Al Wahda in the Arabian Gulf Cup and its impact on the team’s matches against Al Sharjah and then Al Wahda, given the tight schedule of the league, he commented: “We wholly focus on our match against Al Sharjah and then we will start thinking about our match against Al Wahda in the league.”
On the team’s absences, he clarified: “I would like to express my sincere condolences to our player Ahmed Khalil for the loss of his sister and until now it is not confirmed whether he is going to play this coming match or not due to his family obligations.” He added: “Also, Marcus Berg is sick and suffers from fever. We have to wait until the last training session to assess his fitness and readiness to be added to the starting line-up of Saturday’s confrontation.”
“I, personally, know the potentials of Al Shahat so well, and he was playing right back with his Egypt’s ex-team in their league,” commented he on a question that certain views pointed out that Zoran has already arrived at the right and perfect formation of the team as of the second round of the league, but during Al Rayyan match it was clear that he failed to make use of El Shahat’s quality skills. He went on to say: “Indeed, during our recent match in the AFC Champions League, he performed well playing as right back and significantly assisted the striking force of the team. I have no doubt that he is a quality and skilful player and enjoys the potentials to play in several positions in the turf.”
He underscored the role of the fans by saying: “I do understand fans are a weighty part of all football clubs anywhere in the world, and anyone has the right to express his opinion on technical matters, but by the end of the day it is the head coach only is entitled to take the decision. If the club adopts the views of certain fans, then certainly there is no need to have a coach.”
He concluded: “Whoever believes that he has the ability to handle the team’s, he must obtain a certificate or a training license to be in charge of training the team. Absolutely, those who adopt such views do not know the conditions of the team very well because they are not close to the team exactly like the coach, do not live with the players on a daily basis and above all they do not know the problems that certain players suffer from.”
