Abu Dhabi: Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic is relishing the prospect of locking horns with “one of the biggest teams in the world” when his side take on River Plate in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 semi-final.
Al Ain produced an imperious display to brush aside African champions Esperance at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium as goals from Mohamed Ahmad, Hussein El Shahat and Bandar Al Ahbabi secured a 3-0 victory.
Mamic was understandably delighted with his team’s showing and is now looking ahead to a high-profile clash with Copa Libertadores winners River.
“Thanks to my team for a great performance,” Mamic said. “I’m proud. They executed our game plan perfectly and they were focused throughout.
“It’s a great story for me, before I became a coach I worked as a sporting director for Dinamo Zagreb and I would travel to watch players. My first time in Argentina, first match was Boca v River, that was maybe 10-12 years ago.
“River is one of the biggest teams in the world, with a great history and we are playing against them in the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup.”
#ClubWC |
??@ESTuniscom 0-3 @alainfcae_en??The host team are through to the semi-finals
@CARPoficial pic.twitter.com/MGKp0e8Pst— #ClubWC (@FIFAcom) December 15, 2018
Mamic recognised that Marcelo Gallardo’s side will be favourites but vowed that Al Ain will be no walkovers.
“We have to enjoy it, we have to be proud and we have to make it difficult for River,” he said. “We watched the games against Boca and they are very strong. We just have to be better to survive this game.
“(Gallardo) is a great coach, they have done very well and he obviously knows how to talk to his players. But they have to respect us, we have shown we can play good football and I’m sure it will be an interesting game and I hope the stadium will be full.
“We must be focused and motivated which won’t be a problem. River are favourites but favourites don’t always win.”
The Hazza bin Zayed Stadium was rocking against Esperance as the Tunisian fans and their hosts helped create a lively atmosphere. Mamic was quick to acknowledge their role in motivating the team.
“I wanted to thank our fans for their great support and making a great ambiance in the stadium. It’s a pleasure to play under these conditions; a pleasure for the players, a pleasure for the coaching staff and I’m sure it will be a good game (against River Plate).”
The semi-finalists have been confirmed
Who do you think will win UAE 2018? ?#ClubWC ?? pic.twitter.com/dmb7LZT4qc— #ClubWC (@FIFAcom) December 15, 2018
Al Ain should receive a major boost in the return of top scorer Marcus Berg to the starting XI for Tuesday’s semi-final. The Sweden striker was once again missing from Mamic’s line-up against Esperance but the Croatian coach is confident that he will be back to face River.
“For that last four days he has been really struggling with fever and today is the first day he has been feeling better. Hopefully in the next three days he will recover to start the River game.”
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
Source: the-afc.com