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Kouame Autonne: We managed to claim the title of AFC Champions League because we are the best in Asia
I rejected the European offers because I’ve global ambitions with the Boss “Al Zaeem”
I’ve been deeply regretful at the two matches against Yokohama and Al-Hilal due to the mistakes
I’ve been overwhelmed by the tears of cheerfulness at Kingdom Arena stadium and I apologize to the fans and my teammates
I am getting better every year because I train and practice to correct my mistakes
In his first participation in the AFC Champions League, he was crowned with his team as the champions of the most powerful Asian tournaments. He could not pull himself together while he was watching the joyful elderly and youngsters, men and women on the return of the Boss of the Asia as the champions. He is Al Ain powerful defender Kouame Autonne with whom we made a prolonged interview, during which he spoke freely over his ambitions, aspirations, the European offers he received, in addition to the most important stages which he went through during the AFC Champions League, here along the following lines:
Al Ain defender, Kouame Autonne, statedthat; “joining Al Ain was the real turning point in my football career, as I was able to demonstrate my talent before the world. Then I received several offers from GCC and European clubs, proving that joining this big club was the best decision I have ever made in my professional career, which is something that makes me happy, proud, and appreciative.”
Commenting on a question on the offers he received recently, he said: “Yes, as I’ve already said that I received many offers from European clubs, but I feel that I’m performing very well and getting better as required at Al Ain. Therefore, it is not the appropriate time to think about transferring to another club, accordingly the prudent decision is to remain at Al Ain as we have important challenges and world class tournaments to take on.”
Responding to a question over hisambitions and goals with Al Ain, he said: “I explained to you the prestigious tournaments Al Ain will be taking on in the upcoming new season, so my goal is to be on the top with my team all the time. We compete powerfully to claim all titles and work hard to claim the title of Clubs World Cup, and demonstrate to all of the world that we have a pool of talents here at the UAE. Then, I will try to prove to myself that I’m capable of performing better and make more accomplishments than last year.”
Responding to a question on the reason that lies behind Al Ain’s disparate performance in the local and Asian tournaments, he said; “In the beginning, we were focused on all tournaments, but when we reached the quarter finals of AFC Champions League,we had to choose. This is because if we were keen to claim everything, then we would end up losing everything. So, we agreed that Al Ain deserves to claim the AFC Champions League title, accordingly we worked hard to reach that end until we managed to claim what we wished for after we made a decision that our concentration should be focused on the Asian tournament.”
Regarding the most difficult moments over Al Ain’s continental journey, he said: “I think that in the final match, when I miscalculated and lost the ball, then the competing team scored a goal against us. Back then, I felt that we will loseeverything and my team will lose the title because of my naive mistake, especially after Yokohama gained confidence after scoring that goal. Back then, questions started to flood in my head, but I began totalk to myself that we are capable of making a remontada, so I decided that I should remain calm and concentrate in the match to avoid making any other mistake.”
“Again, in our match vs Saudi Al Hilalwhen I committed a penalty just after the kick off, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of remorse and regret, as I put my team in a trouble. We know that Al Hilal is a powerful team and our start was powerful,but I lacked focus, so I apologize to my teammates as well as the fans over thatmistake. Frankly, I could not pull my feelings together and was overwhelmed with the tears of cheerfulness after making it to the final match”, he continued.
Regarding his feelings when he realized that his team will be reaching very far in AFC Champions League, he said: “I felt that we will be reaching very far after making it to the semifinals when we managed to disqualify Saudi Al Nasr. After that match, we believed in ourselves and were confident that we will be reaching very far in the tournament, then we will be facing Saudi Al Hilal with high morale, afterwards we will be writing the new history of the Asian tournament, then we will be restoring the title for Al Ain once more.”
Commenting on a question over the various mistakes he kept committing with the team, he said: “Actually, no one likes to make mistakes, but in football, the mistakes committed by the defender and the goalkeeper are fatal. I think that I am getting better every year because I am learning from my mistakes and always working to get better, and I think that I am getting better and I will be much better in the upcoming new season.”
Regarding the direct reason behind the coronation with the AFC Champions League, he said: “Reasons are too many, starting with the administration which provided all resources that helped us to rise up the coronation podium, as well as the head coach, the team’s captain, my teammates, the assistant coaching staff, the medical staff, and Al Ain fans who kept supporting the team at all matches. So,everyone contributed in achieving this continental accomplishment.”
Regarding the state of dissatisfaction despite claiming the AFC Champions League title, he said: “Fans are rightful to blame the team because they deserve the best, but we had to choose either to claim the AFC Champions League title or to compete for the local tournaments, and we chose the most powerful of all tournaments. Eventually, everyone is happy as we did not win for ourselves, but we claimed victory for them as well. We are the champions of Asia, and that applies to each Ainawi fan.”
Commenting on the Asian engagement in AFC Champions League Elite in the upcoming season, he said: “Every club in Asia knows Al Ain, the champions of AFC Champions League title. So they have to reconsider their positions again because we are coming in this version too and have a definite target after we managed to rise up the coronation podium once more.”
