Dubai: Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu has said his team will fight until the end of their final Asian Champions League group game at home to Iran’s Tractor Sazi on Tuesday, despite qualification chances looking remote.
The Red Knights must beat the Iranians at home and hope that already qualified Al Ahli Jeddah of Saudi Arabia beat second-placed Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan away if they are to qualify.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli are top of Group D on 11 points, four points clear of next placed Nasaf Qarshi, who are two points clear of Al Ahli Dubai. Tractor Sazi are already eliminated and bottom of the group on four points.
“Unfortunately, we arrive in a situation where we depend also on the result of other games,” said Olaroiu. “We have to win the game but also wait for the result in Uzbekistan.
“This is not the best situation but even though we can’t affect the result of the other game, we know we have to do our job against a very strong team who are first in the Iranian league. It will be hard to win but we will do our best until the end.
“Tractor Sazi don’t have a chance to qualify but even so they are playing with no pressure and have quality players, even on those on the bench, their level does not change.
“We have to win and to think that we have qualified after 60 minutes – if the other result is going our way – is a very big mistake against a side like Tractor Sazi.”
Midfielder Majed Hassan was sent off for a second bookable offence in Al Ahli’s last game - a 2-1 defeat - away to Al Ahli Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, last month. The referee admitted his decision was a mistake and the club appealed to have the suspension rescinded, but an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) review ruled that the ban should stand. Olaroiu said this could hurt the club hard in their final game against Tractor Sazi.
“For me this is a joke,” he added. “This competition loses credibility because of decisions like this. He was sent off after 60 minutes but after 60 minutes everything changed, our possession, shots and attack.
“We aren’t just paying for this decision once but twice, for this game as well he will be suspended. He is one of my important players, I had a way of playing but now I will have to change everything for this match.”
