Al Ain midfielder Ahmad Barman
Abu Dhabi - Players said head coach Zoran Mamic's tactics will help 'The Boss' steer through the play-off and later stages
Published: Tue 11 Dec 2018, 9:57 PM
Updated: Wed 12 Dec 2018, 12:00 AM
Players from Al Ain FC, the most successful club in the UAE, are eager to stamp their authority on the world stage with a stellar performance against Team Wellington in the Fifa Club World Cup on Wednesday.
Players said head coach Zoran Mamic's tactics will help 'The Boss' steer through the play-off and later stages.
In fact, midfielder Ahmad Barman believes the 'Garden City' Club can romp past continental champions to book a date with Real Madrid or River Plate in the final to be played on December 22.
"We are participating in this tournament as a result of our past season's hard work. And now we are all determined to show our skills. Al Ain, as always in any international competitions, will strive hard to represent the UAE with full honour and pride. Coach Mamic has prepared all players well for this competition. We wish to be part of the final match through a clear and simple strategy - to deal with each match separately," said Barman who also plays for the UAE national team.
Swedish striker Marcus Berg, who played in the 2018 World Cup, said players were ready for the Club World Cup grind.
"Al Ain players are ready to show their best performance and achieve our goals. I hope to do my best and turn all the chances into goals. We will fight to clinch the title," Berg said.
Egyptian midfielder Hussein El Shahat said the tournament is a great opportunity for all players to prove themselves on a world stage. "Since the start of the new season, we are waiting impatiently for this day. I hope we will be lucky to show all opponents our skills and be able to make all our fans happy. Given the quality of other teams, matches will not be easy but our coach has prepared us for all possible scenarios. We need to be highly focused and redouble our efforts."
Youngster Rayan Yaslam said the players wanted to realise the aspiration of all fans in the UAE.
"Our coach has set tactics and we will surely be able to achieve our desired goals," he added.
All players are counting on home advantage and massive fan support to start on a winning note.
"Fans are the secret to our great achievements. They are player No. 1 in all our matches," Ahmad Barman added.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
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