Bonamigo confident experience will help

Al Shabab coach Paulo Bonamigo is confident his side's AFC Champions League experience will go a long way towards helping his squad improve in the competition next season.

The Dubai club played in the Asian continental competition for the only the second time in their history this year, with their debut coming in 2009.

They finished bottom of Group D with just two points from their six games. Their final match saw them beaten 3-1 at home by Iran's Piroozi Athletic on Tuesday night, but after the game Bonamigo said he believes his team can become competitive at this level.

"We had some tasks for tonight's match and one of them was to prepare [Azizbek] Hydarov for the Etisalat Cup final [on May 21 against Al Ahli] and at the same time give our youngsters match experience at the top-most level," Bonamigo said.

"This team can certainly evolve. We have no doubt that this competition gave a lot of boys the chance to learn. There are so many players in the line-up who have learnt. These are the players of the future for Al Shabab, and without a doubt they will improve and perform next season."