AFC Champions League Quarter-finals - The Expert's View: Al Ain vs Al Hilal

Published on: 17 August 2017

Al Ain: Al Ain and Al Hilal, two of the biggest teams in West Asia clash in the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-final. 

We asked a man who managed and won titles with both teams for his views and predictions of this fixture.

Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic lifted the Saudi Crown Prince Cup with Al Hilal in 2013 and won the league with Al Ain in 2015. Most recently, he took Al Ain to the AFC Champions League final last season.

Q: Which players have the potential to be a game-changer for Al Ain and Al Hilal in the quarter-final?

Dalic: Both teams have a lot of quality players, in this match the gamechanger will not be an individual but the whole team as a unit.

Q: You led Al Ain to within a whisker of winning the Champions League last season and Al Hilal were also very close in 2014. Can either team go one step further and lift the trophy this year?

Dalic: It is about time the final is won by one of these teams. Because in the last three years all finals played were lost by clubs from this region; Al Hilal, Al Ahli Dubai and Al Ain. They were defeated by clubs from Australia, China and South Korea.

Q: Al Ain striker Douglas came under a lot of criticism since that penalty miss in the Champions League final, but the club brought him back. Do you think he has what it takes to turn it around and be a success at Al Ain?

Douglas (9) appeared in the 2016 AFC Champions League final.

Dalic: We brought Douglas to Al Ain as the best player of the Japanese League. He did not deserve that kind of pressure from the fans.

He had not found a way of wrestling off that pressure and he fell under it as did the management of the club. I am very happy he is back where he belongs, in the team of Al Ain, he deserved it as a player and also as a person.

Q: Al Hilal always attract big crowds, especially in games like these. Does it feel like a burden or an extra motivation for the coach and the players to have so many fans behind you?

Dalic: Surely the stadium will be packed, so many passionate fans can only be strength, motivation and big support to the team. Al Hilal have great fans and I witnessed that a couple of times.

Q: Al Hilal play the first leg away from home, if you were in Coach Ramon Diaz’s shoes, what would be your objective from the game at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium?

Dalic: It is always important in the away games to achieve at least one goal. To achieve a positive result which will give hope for the home game. This match-up is about teams of close quality and both matches will be important.

Q: What is your prediction for the quarter-final and where do you see this match won or lost?

Dalic: Both teams have big ambitions in this tournament, last season Al Ain were in the final and Al Hilal were there three years ago. It will be a big clash.

Chances are 50-50, both teams have the same problem - both legs come at the very beginning of the season. Both teams have a lot of experience of what is it like to be in the AFC Champions League. 

Photos: Lagardère Sports

Source: the-afc.com

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