Asamoah Gyan, the Al Ain striker, is urging caution ahead of next weekââ¬â¢s Asian Champions League quarter-final second leg against Al Ittihad, despite the Garden City club enjoying a two-goal aggregate lead.
The 2003 champions travel to Saudi Arabia buoyed by Tuesdayââ¬â¢s 2-0 triumph at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, secured by second-half strikes from Ismail Ahmed and Gyan.
Such an advantage places Al Ain in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, although Gyan has warned his teammates the tie is far from finished.
ââ¬ÅIt was an important win,â⬠he said. ââ¬ÅWe wanted to win convincingly to make sure we secure our Champions League dream. So 2-0 at home is quite good, but we need to stay focused and make sure we do well in the second match.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s a very big game for us. We know itââ¬â¢s all ahead of us and we have to keep calm, because itââ¬â¢s not done yet. We must stay focused and do the right thing.ââ¬
Al Ainââ¬â¢s chances on Tuesday should be enhanced by the match being played behind closed doors, after a sanction placed on Ittihad by the Asian Football Confederation.
It dates from May and the crowd trouble at the Saudi sideââ¬â¢s last-16 encounter with compatriots Al Shabab. Ittihad have appealed the decision.
ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s a big plus for us,â⬠Gyan said. ââ¬ÅTheyââ¬â¢re playing at home, without fans and weââ¬â¢ve certainly got an advantage there. What matters, though, is weââ¬â¢ve won 2-0 and weââ¬â¢re going there to make sure we qualify. Whatever the result may be, we have to qualify for the next stage. Thatââ¬â¢s our goal.ââ¬
Gyanââ¬â¢s first-leg goal took his tally this year for the tournament to 11, stretching his lead at the top of the scorersââ¬â¢ chart.
The Ghanaian received a superb assist from Omar Abdulrahman, a partnership that continues to flourish.
ââ¬ÅWe understand each other very well,â⬠Gyan said. ââ¬ÅEvery time he gets the ball I know what heââ¬â¢s trying to do, Iââ¬â¢m always ready â⬓ itââ¬â¢s not the first time.
ââ¬ÅThe communication between us is really, really good and what matters is to finish well. When youââ¬â¢re a striker and you get a lot of quality passes like that and you donââ¬â¢t finish, then the work goes unrewarded. So Iââ¬â¢ve got to just do my job.
ââ¬ÅPersonally Iââ¬â¢m happy to score. Iââ¬â¢m continuing to do it and thatââ¬â¢s a good thing for a striker. The team have helped me so much; I have to thank the players and everybody for their support. I had a great World Cup and Iââ¬â¢m still scoring, so itââ¬â¢s a good thing for me.ââ¬
Gyan also praised the impact of new signings Miroslav Stoch and Lee Myung-joo, who debuted against Ittihad and who each provided telling contributions in midfield.
ââ¬ÅThey are new in the team and we need to support them,â⬠Gyan said. ââ¬ÅItââ¬â¢s very difficult to adapt to a new league, theyââ¬â¢re coming from different places so we just have to give them time.
ââ¬ÅBut the players are supporting them, which is the most important thing. They are not 100 per cent, but theyââ¬â¢re getting better.ââ¬