Abu Dhabi: The last-minute change of venue will have ‘no negative impact’ on his team’s aspirations of making it to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League, feels Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic.

Al Ain’s Saudi opponents Al Ittihad asked Asian Football Confederation for change in venue for the return leg of the Asian Champions League quarterfinal match and the parent body accepted their request.

“Our preparations have gone as per plan and change in circumstance will have no negative impact. We are not going to take our opponents lightly. We will adopt our method of attacking in front of the Saudi side as we did in order to achieve victory at home,” said Dalic, adding: “I think that the opportunity is available and our players are well aware about it. They will be keen to register a win, show character and finish on a high.”

King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah was supposed to host the match but Al Ittihad claimed the venue was not ready for Tuesday’s tie. This has certainly disrupted Al Ain’s travel plans as instead of Jeddah they had to fly to Saudi’s summer capital Taif and then travel to King Abdul Aziz Sport City on the outskirts of Makkah. The entire team cannot travel through Makkah as non-Muslims have to take an alternative route around the holy city to reach his second venue.

Al Ain are currently sitting pretty after having registered a 2-0 win at home last week and the task has become all the more daunting for Al Ittihad with their fans facing a Stadium ban.

“I already was said that I do not want to comment on the decision of depriving an opponent of the fans. We have played in Iran last season in front of 60,000 spectators and we went out of the stadium with a positive result. But personally on a good note, I would say the presence of the audience is important and I know the influential role the audience can bring,” felt Dalic.

Once again, the team will be banking on their stalwarts – ace medio Omar Abdul Rahman and prolific scorer Asamoah Gyan to show their magic with the ball. Abdul Rahman was simply at his best in the last outing and ripped through the Al Ittihad defense in the second half. His assistance allowed Gyan to get his 11th goal of the tournament. It will be a challenge for Al Ittihad to stop the duo from showing their guile.

Newcomers Kembo Ekoko of France, Slovakian international Miroslav Stoch and Lee Myung-joo from South Korea have also given enough evidence that they are fitting into Dalic and the team’s scheme of things well. A similar show is what one will be expecting from them.

“The task is not going to be easy. Al Ittihad also have the same ambition as us to make it to the semis. They will definitely be putting double the effort on the field to compensate for their loss in the first leg and we have to be wary about that,” warned playmaker Abdul Rahman, who is well aware that he will be tightly marked.

“We know what we should do in order to qualify and yes, they will try to pin me. However, we have to keep the concentration throughout the match and only then can we get the desired result,” revealed Abdul Rahman.

Al Ittihad coach Khalid Al Koroni was also confident of his wards turning around things. “We are well aware that Al Ain is a great team. This contest however will be tough on both teams. I think my team has the elements to get the desired result,” said Al Koroni.

“I certainly, as a coach, take full responsibility for my decisions in preparation, reading and selection of the team and will not bring any player liability for any loss. But now it was time to get the team ready psychologically, physically and technically for this crucial game,” he added.