‘Time has come for Emiratis to play in Europe’

Dubai: UAE national football team coach Mahdi Ali has insisted the time is right for Emirati players to go and play in major European leagues.

Speaking to media on Tuesday after renewing his contract until the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, Ali said the UAE needs to look at the example of Asia’s most successful football nations such as South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Singling out Australia as the best example, Ali observed how the Socceroos did not have a single player in any European league when the UAE played them during the qualifiers for the 2008 Fifa World Cup. However, just seven years later, Australia now have more than 80 per cent of their players in Europe.

The UAE finished third in the Asian Cup in January after losing 2-0 to hosts Australia in the semi-finals.

Star playmaker Omar Abdul Rahman had a trial at Manchester City in 2012 and has regularly been linked with a move to Europe, but he recently committed his future to Al Ain, while Al Jazira striker Ali Mabkhout attracted a lot of attention as he finished as top scorer in the Asian Cup.

“We have a fantastic set of youngsters at the moment, but there are always avenues for improvement. They need to venture out and play in other countries so that they learn new things and get more experience of playing different styles of football. The time has come for Emirati players to play in Europe,” Ali told media.

He added: “I think all of us have a dream of playing in the World Cup. People ask me how I keep myself and my team motivated all the time. I feel I am participating in a race and I need to continue running all the time if we are to achieve this dream. And being an Emirati gives me even more motivation as this is my duty towards my country.”

The UAE’s next major assignment are the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup that are scheduled to begin in June, while the Gulf Cup will be held in Kuwait at the end of this year.

Ali’s side will enter in the second round of Asian qualifiers, when 40 teams — those ranked from 1 to 34 on the continent and six first round winners — divided into eight groups of five. The group winners and the four best group runners-up will advance to the third round, while also qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup. The UAE already have a place in the continental showpiece as hosts.

“This is a good generation of players and they deserve to look at the World Cup in Russia. Of course, these are big dreams, big ambitions and even bigger responsibility. For this, we need to work even harder in the future. I am willing to lead by example. I sleep with a pen and paper next to my bed,” Ali said.

“Pressure is part of the game. There are always opportunities for improvement. I feel our players will slowly get the experience and we will have a bright future.

“The big targets are achieved by getting to the small targets first. Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup will be a gateway to achieving our targets in the Asian Cup the following year, as many expect us to win it since the tournament is being held here.”