Yahia Nader: With Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed’s trustand support, we outperformed
Yahia Nader… Star of THE BEST
My goal against Sharjah will be remembered
We are familiar with Al Ain fans distinction, I promise them enjoyable performance in new season
We learned lessons from last season, if finals are repeated 200 times, we will not lose
Outside the stadium, Yahya is Ain fan, student at Department of Mass Communication
Park’s presence does not worry me, it serves me and teammates
I do not care about criticism, but focus on coach and management direct advice
Recovered and ready for new season challenge
2022 league is different, playing against Al-Jazira eyed my start
Study-football balance, most important challenge for me
We wrapped up our interviews in Spain camp, with adistinguished, highly talented and focused defensive midfielder, as all coaches agree. Besides, he is a fanatical fan of Al Ain, which turned out to us when he was away for long from the field due to an injury he suffered last season. He was receiving treatment, but was always there at the stadium among the fans to support his team.
Yahia Nader, the best defensive midfielder on our national team list. In our short interview with him, he brought to surface some aspects we did not know.
Nader expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, First Vice President of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, First Vice President of the Honorary Council & Chairman of the Board of Directors, for his precious trust in Al Ain players and lofty care and generous support for the Club.
“I would also like to thank His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Club and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Affairs of Al Ain Football Club Company, for his growing attention, close follow-up and all-around-the-clock communication to provide all factors for success for the team, motivating us to show our best in order to achieve the ambitions of our club and satisfy our loyal fans”.
Out of Field
Asked how he would describe himself out of the field, he said: “Frankly, outside the field, I am an ordinary person, and fanatical fan of Al Ain. Besides, I am a student at the Department of Mass Communication“.
School & Academy
On his early football career at the school and the academy, he said: “I joined Al-Ain football school at the age of seven. I lived my most beautiful moments at Al Ain Club. I learned a lot and received all the necessary support, attention and care. I worked hard until I reached the first team, the dream I and all my teammates had as children”.
Injury
On the injury he suffered last season, he said: “Like a footballer, I was injured, which is normal. Still, my second injury last season was very serious, and treatment took long. I am now fully recovered, thanks to Allah Almighty first, then to the follow-up of the Club’s medical staff, and the management’s care. I am ready for the new football season”.
Best Goals
On his best goal over his career, he said: “It is certainlymy goal against the Sharjah team, and I believe it will beremembered”.
Best Moments
On his most beautiful moments, he said: “One of the most beautiful moments I had lived in my football career was reaching the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup final. At the time, we had low level, and the ceiling of expectations was not high when we entered the tournament, but we received patronage and trust from His Highness Sheikh Hazaa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Players showed high courage and great fighting spirit. Itwas associated with the joy of a homeland, and we found support from our fans and all the Emirati people, so we could reach the final. It is such an indescribable moment that brought joy and delight to every single Emirati soul”.
Best League
On his best tournament in his career at Al Ain, he said: “In football, the best moments are always associated with great challenges, which we all agree on as players. I believe that the 2021-2022 league was among the best we won, as we faced tremendous challenges represented by our absence for three seasons from embracing the shield, which is unacceptable in Al Ain Club. We were able to win, with one loss only losing towards the title”.
Most Important Challenge
With regard to the most important challenge in his career, he said: “As I mentioned, I am a student at the Department of Mass Communication. I stopped for half a year failing to balance between football and study. So,the most important challenge for me now is making the required balance to finish my university educationwithout affecting my football career with Al Ain”.
Best Game
On his best game, he said: “One of the best games I played was against Al-Jazira. I believe it eyed my real start, when we were coached by the Croatian Coach Ivan Leko. At that time, a teammate was sent off, and I played important roles in the centre back, and I received high praise from the fans, and personally. Again, that game was my real start”.
Park Young-woo
Asked if he was worried about the presence of a defensive midfielder as Park Young-woo, he said: “It does not worry me at all to have such a distinguished midfielder within the team system. His presence highly motivates me to learn from him and intensify my efforts to enhance my potential, which definitely serves me and the entire team”.
Lessons Learned
On why the team lost all the finals last season, he said: “We came out with lessons learned from last season. That was so cruel to us as players and we failed to please the fans, which is certainly painful. Small details deprived us of topping podia in all tournaments, and if those games are repeated 200 times we will not lose, and Sharjah will not be able to defeat Al Ain. What happened last season is the greatest motivation for the players to benefit from past mistakes and focus on our merits in the new season, and we realize that our task will not be easy.
Yahia and Criticism
On how he handles criticism as a professional player, he said: “To be honest, I do not care about criticism, just because I get affected quickly. That is why I made my decision to distance myself from constructive or destructive criticism, but this does not mean that I am completely away because certainly there is an evaluation within the Club and meetings after, before and during games with the coach and management, who are concerned with directing helpful criticism. I am always keen to benefit from these meetings, especially as they are accompanied by video clips and analysis indicators according to the modern science of football”.
Al Ain Fans
Yahia Nader concluded the interview, saying: “We are always familiar with l Ain fans’ distinction, and next season I hope that we will succeed to go with the thought of the new coach, based on collective and exciting football consistent with the aspirations of our fans whowill see major difference in the team’s performance from the first game“.
