{"id":5020,"date":"2024-08-05T07:39:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T07:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/?p=5020"},"modified":"2024-08-05T11:20:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T11:20:01","slug":"kouame-autonne-we-managed-to-claim-the-title-of-afc-champions-league-because-we-are-the-best-in-asia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/kouame-autonne-we-managed-to-claim-the-title-of-afc-champions-league-because-we-are-the-best-in-asia\/","title":{"rendered":"Kouame Autonne: We managed to claim the title of AFC Champions League because we are the best in Asia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back to<\/span><\/span> Asia<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Kouame Autonne: We managed to claim the title of AFC Champions League because we are the best <\/span><\/span>in <\/span><\/span>Asia <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I rejected the European offers because <\/span><\/span>I\u2019ve global <\/span><\/span>ambitions with <\/span><\/span>the Boss <\/span><\/span>\u201cAl<\/span><\/span> Zaeem\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span><\/span>\u2019ve<\/span><\/span> been deeply regretful a<\/span><\/span>t the <\/span><\/span>two matches <\/span><\/span>against<\/span><\/span> Yokohama <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>Al-Hilal due to the mistakes <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span><\/span>\u2019ve<\/span><\/span> been overwhelmed by the tears of cheerfulness at Kingdom Arena stadium and I apologize to the fans a<\/span><\/span>nd <\/span><\/span>my teammates<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am getting better every year because I train and practice to correct my mistakes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In <\/span><\/span>his first <\/span><\/span>participation in the<\/span><\/span> AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>he was crowned with his team as the champions of the most powerful <\/span><\/span>Asian <\/span><\/span>tournaments. He could not pull himself together while he was watching the joyful elderly and youngsters, men and women <\/span><\/span>on <\/span><\/span>the return of the <\/span><\/span>B<\/span><\/span>oss of the Asia as the champion<\/span><\/span>s. H<\/span><\/span>e is <\/span><\/span>Al Ain <\/span><\/span>powerful defender Kouame Autonne<\/span><\/span> with whom we made a prolonged interview, during which he spoke freely over his ambitions, aspiration<\/span><\/span>s, <\/span><\/span>the European offer<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> he received, in addition to the most important stages which he <\/span><\/span>went through <\/span><\/span>during the A<\/span><\/span>FC <\/span><\/span>Champions League<\/span><\/span>, here along the following lines: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Al<\/span><\/span> Ain defender, Kouame Autonne, s<\/span><\/span>tated<\/span><\/span>that<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>joining Al<\/span><\/span> Ain was the real turning point in my football career, <\/span><\/span>as <\/span><\/span>I was able to <\/span><\/span>demonstrate<\/span><\/span> my talent <\/span><\/span>before<\/span><\/span> the world<\/span><\/span>. T<\/span><\/span>hen I received several offers from GCC and European clubs, <\/span><\/span>proving <\/span><\/span>that joining this big club <\/span><\/span>was the best decision I have ever made in my professional career, which is something that make<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> me happy, proud, and appreciative.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting on a question <\/span><\/span>on <\/span><\/span>the offers he <\/span><\/span>received<\/span><\/span> recently, he said: \u201cYes, as I<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>ve already <\/span><\/span>said that <\/span><\/span>I received many offers from European clubs, but I feel that I<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>m performing very well and getting better as required <\/span><\/span>at Al Ain. Therefore, <\/span><\/span>it is not the appropriate time to think about transferring to another club, accordingly the prudent decision is to <\/span><\/span>remain <\/span><\/span>at Al<\/span><\/span> Ain <\/span><\/span>as <\/span><\/span>we have important <\/span><\/span>challenges <\/span><\/span>and world class tournaments to take on.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

R<\/span><\/span>espon<\/span><\/span>ding<\/span><\/span> to a question over his<\/span><\/span>ambitions and goals with Al<\/span><\/span> Ai<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>, he said: \u201cI <\/span><\/span>explained to <\/span><\/span>you<\/span><\/span> the prestigious <\/span><\/span>tournament<\/span><\/span>s <\/span><\/span>Al<\/span><\/span> 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<\/span><\/span>. W<\/span><\/span>e compete powerful<\/span><\/span>ly <\/span><\/span>to claim all titles and work hard to claim the title of Clubs World Cup, a<\/span><\/span>nd<\/span><\/span> demonstrate to<\/span><\/span> all of the world that we have <\/span><\/span>a pool of <\/span><\/span>talents here at the U<\/span><\/span>AE. T<\/span><\/span>hen<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> I will try to prove to myself that I<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>m capable of performing better<\/span><\/span> and make<\/span><\/span> more accomplishments <\/span><\/span>than <\/span><\/span>last <\/span><\/span>year<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

R<\/span><\/span>espon<\/span><\/span>ding<\/span><\/span> to a question o<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span> the reason that lies behind Al<\/span><\/span> Ain\u2019s <\/span><\/span>disparate <\/span><\/span>performance in the local and Asian tournament<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>, he said<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>\u201cIn the beginning<\/span><\/span>, we were <\/span><\/span>focused <\/span><\/span>on <\/span><\/span>all tournaments, but when we reached the quarter finals of AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>we had to choose<\/span><\/span>. T<\/span><\/span>his is because if we were keen to claim everything, then we would end up losing everything<\/span><\/span>. S<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> we agreed that Al<\/span><\/span> Ain deserves to claim the AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span> title<\/span><\/span>, 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.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding <\/span><\/span>the most difficult moments <\/span><\/span>over Al Ain\u2019s <\/span><\/span>continental <\/span><\/span>journey<\/span><\/span>, he said: \u201cI 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 los<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>everything and my team will los<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span> the title because of my naive mistake, especially after Yokohama gained confidence after scoring th<\/span><\/span>at<\/span><\/span> goal. Back then, questions started to flood in my head, <\/span><\/span>but <\/span><\/span>I <\/span><\/span>began to<\/span><\/span>talk to myself that we are capable of <\/span><\/span>making a remontada<\/span><\/span>, so I decided that I should remain calm and concentrate in the match to avoid making any other mistake.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>Again, in <\/span><\/span>our match vs Saudi Al<\/span><\/span> Hilal<\/span><\/span>when I committed a penalty <\/span><\/span>just after the <\/span><\/span>kick off, I was overwhelmed with the feelings of remorse and regret, <\/span><\/span>as <\/span><\/span>I put my team in a trouble<\/span><\/span>. W<\/span><\/span>e kn<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>w that Al<\/span><\/span> Hilal is a powerful team and our start was powerful<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>but I<\/span><\/span> lacked focus<\/span><\/span>, so I apologize to my teammates as well as the fans over th<\/span><\/span>at<\/span><\/span>mistake. <\/span><\/span>Frankly<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> I could not pull my feelings together and was overwhelmed with the tears of cheerfulness after making it to the final match\u201d<\/span><\/span>, he continued.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding <\/span><\/span>his feeling<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> when he <\/span><\/span>realized <\/span><\/span>that his team will be reaching very far in AFC Champions League, he said: \u201cI fe<\/span><\/span>lt <\/span><\/span>that we will be reaching very far after making it to the <\/span><\/span>semifinals<\/span><\/span> when we managed to disqualify Saudi Al<\/span><\/span> Nasr<\/span><\/span>. A<\/span><\/span>fter that match<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> we believed in ourselves and were confident that we will be reaching very far in the tournament, then we will be facing Saudi Al<\/span><\/span> Hilal with high morale, afterwards we will be writing the new history of the Asian tournament, then we will be <\/span><\/span>restoring <\/span><\/span>the title <\/span><\/span>for <\/span><\/span>Al<\/span><\/span> Ain once more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting on a question over the <\/span><\/span>various <\/span><\/span>mistakes he kept committing with the team, he said<\/span><\/span>: \u201cActually,<\/span><\/span> no one likes to make mistakes, but in football<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>the mistakes committed by the defender and the goalkeeper are fatal<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>I think that I am getting better every year because I am learning from my mistakes and always working to get better, <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>I think that I am getting better and I will be much better <\/span><\/span>in the upcoming new season<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding <\/span><\/span>the direct reason behind the coronation with the AFC Champions League, he said: \u201cReasons are too many, starting with the administration w<\/span><\/span>hich <\/span><\/span>provided all <\/span><\/span>resources <\/span><\/span>that helped us to rise up the coronation podium, as well as the head coach, the team\u2019s captain, my teammates, the assistant coaching staff, the medical staff, and Al<\/span><\/span> Ain fans who kept supporting the team at all matches<\/span><\/span>. S<\/span><\/span>o<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>everyone contributed in achieving this continental accomplishment.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding <\/span><\/span>the state of dissatisfaction despite claiming the AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span> title<\/span><\/span>, he said: \u201cFans are rightful to blame the team because they deserve the best, but we had to choose either to claim the AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span> title<\/span><\/span> or to compete <\/span><\/span>for <\/span><\/span>the local tournaments, <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>we chose the most powerful of all tournaments. <\/span><\/span>Eventually<\/span><\/span>, everyone is happy <\/span><\/span>as <\/span><\/span>we did not win for ourselves, but we claimed victory for them as well. We are the champions of Asia, <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>that applies to e<\/span><\/span>ach<\/span><\/span> Ainawi fan.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting on <\/span><\/span>the Asian engagement in AFC Champions League <\/span><\/span>E<\/span><\/span>lite in the upcoming season, he said: \u201cEvery club in Asia knows Al<\/span><\/span> Ain, the champi<\/span><\/span>ons <\/span><\/span>of AFC Champions League<\/span><\/span> title<\/span><\/span>. S<\/span><\/span>o they have to <\/span><\/span>reconsider <\/span><\/span>their positions <\/span><\/span>again because we are coming in this <\/span><\/span>version <\/span><\/span>too and <\/span><\/span>have a definite target <\/span><\/span>after we managed to rise up the coronation podium once more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Back to Asia 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\u2019ve global ambitions with the Boss \u201cAl Zaeem\u201d I\u2019ve been deeply regretful at the two matches against Yokohama and Al-Hilal due to the mistakes I\u2019ve been overwhelmed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5020"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5021,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5020\/revisions\/5021"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alainclub.ae\/fc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}