Our Mission Against Al Nasr Will Not Be Easy.. Zoran Mamic: Al Ain Is the Best Team in the League
In the pre-match press conference dedicated for Al Ain’s match against Al Nasr in weekmatch 10 of AGL, Croatia’s Head Coach of Al Ain First Football Team, Zoran Mamic, said that his team’s mission will not be easy, particularly the competitor has a good coach and their squad has quality players.
He pointed out: “During my career, I faced difficult circumstances and countless challenges, but never happened to face such a current situation where I cannot determine my final starting lineup and I got only 48 hours prior the match due to massive number of absences.” He added: “Anyway, we have to accept the challenge, deal with it realistically, harness all the team’s capabilities in the right manner and do our best to achieve our predetermined goals for this season.”
“I believe that under the circumstances which the team is experiencing since the kickoff of the current season and even in the coming round, I am satisfied by the team’s position in the standing table of the league,” said he in response to a question whether he is satisfied with the second position in the league after the elapse of matchweek 9. He went on to say: “I do not want to tackle the issue of results again as everybody is well aware of the particulars of the current competition, and my mission here is to prepare my team for the challenges scheduled this season.”
Commenting on granting Asia Best Player Award to Omar Khreibin on the expense of Captain of Al Ain Team, he said: “I do not know why Omar Abdul Rahman did not win Asia Best Player Award and I do not know really the standards adopted by the AFC and who is the decision maker to grant such an award. Indeed, I do not underestimate efforts of Omar Khreibin whose team played the final match of the AFC Champions League and shoed his best during his team’s match. However, I would have been happier than Amoory himself if he won the award.”
He added: “There is something unclear and incomprehensible with regard to the date of the AFC Awards Ceremony. Omar Abdul Rahman left on Sunday and he is back after four days he will join the team, i.e. 24 hours before an important official match. I wonder how the AFC took such a decision without consulting anyone, but it seems they are changing their programs every ten days without consulting anyone.”
“It is great for me as a coach to be the decision-maker in determining who is going to be in the starting lineup. I do not know the reactions of others as if I involved Omar Abdel Rahman in the team’s next game against Al Nasr. You know, if he plays the match, there will be a big question mark as I should give him a break!! If I do not, you will have some people wondering why I took such a decision.”
With regard to the drop in the team’s results following the superior performance the team exhibited in match against Al Wahda, he said: “I believe that this is part of the past and we are focusing on the future. Yet, Al Ain squad played a stunning match against Al Jazira despite the draw result. I admit that we did not show our best against Dibba Al Fujairah and this is perhaps because of the great number of absences. Any football team in the world will face difficulties when suffering from the absence of more than five key players.”
On the issue of how Al Ain is planning to regain their power in the second round whether through to proceed with the rehabilitation of injured players, new contracts or other any other solutions, he underlined: “I do not care about others’ opinions. Personally, I do believe that my team was the best in 8 out of 9 matches this current season based on technical analysis. Al Ain players were the ones who dominated the details of the past matches by their great skill and superior performance except our last game against Dibba.”
He concluded the press conference by stating: “Decline in performance is expected in the world of football and it is manageable, but what is more frightening is the issue of injuries we are suffering from currently which I could not find a solution for it so far.”
