Zoran Mamic Laments Draw Against Zob Ahan
Zoran Mamic, the coach of the last year’s AFC Champions League runners-up Al Ain club, has bemoaned that his squad drew their opening AFC Champions League game 1-1 with Iran’s Zob Ahan.
“I am not happy with the result of our opener in the AFC Champions League” said Mamic, Al Ain’s recently appointed successor to Zlatko Dalic.
“My team deserved victory, especially in the first half when we played very good football and controlled the game. But football is played for goals and we didn’t score,” he said.
Mamic added that “the team was not as good as that in the second half, however, we had opportunities to strike the goal frame, instead, the visitors managed to score out of only two opportunities.”
“We are required to be more focused and confident in front of the goal,” the Croatian said, “citing a lack in fitness levels as a possible reason for being unable to take the chances. He promised to develop the team performance.”
On his impression about the team, Mamic said that he got to know the high potential of the team players. Despite missing key players due to injury, Mamic remains confident of his team’s ability to recover and finish the season strongly.
Commenting on benching Al-Shamrani and, instead, having Diaky in the game starting lineup, the coach said that the Emirati midfielder’s style fits the conditions of the game.
