Hosts Al Ain and defending champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia went through their paces ahead of tomorrow's clash in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Football Championship finals.
While the 2003 champions trained at the Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Stadium, the visitors worked out at the Khalifa Stadium as rival coaches Milan Macala of Al Ain and Anghel Iordanescu of Ittihad chalked out their respective plans.
Shaikh Mohammad, who attended Sunday night's training said: "Our team has reached a good stage and we are mentally well prepared. We are keen to put ourselves in a good position before the away game. The players are all motivated and are looking forward to their second triumph in the AFC Champions League," he added.
Ever since the new-look AFC Champions League was introduced in 2003, clubs from West Asia have dominated. It was Al Ain in 2003 and Al Ittihad in 2004 and the two clash in the third edition, which also offers them an additional bonus of $500,000 and a berth in the Fifa Clubs World Championship.
Prior to 2003, teams from the East of the continent have reigned supreme, particularly in the last seven editions. Korean clubs won on six occasions, but the Eastern dominance seemed to have been replaced by West Asian clubs.
Both teams have a number of national team players in their respective squads and have scored big victories in the semifinals a fortnight ago. The Saudi giants, who are also the Arab Clubs champion, not only appear to have an edge both on paper as well as on form, but are also being backed as the favourites.
Korean club champions Busan I'Park were demolished by the Ittihad side and the losing coach Ian Porterfield was full of praise for his former club.
"It should be a good game and I wish both managers good luck. Of course, I wish that it was Busan playing but it should be an exciting occasion for Asian football and I probably would have to go for Al Ittihad to win it," said the Scotsman, in remarks published in footballasia.com. "They're a good team with outstanding players in all positions. They have certainly invested well in their players but the thing that impresses me most about them is how solid they are as a unit.
"Sometimes you can get the best players but you may not have good teamwork. However, Al Ittihad play with plenty of heart and good effort," said Porterfield.
However, though Porterfield is speaking after his first-hand experience against the champions, Al Ain are no minnows. They have mastered the 'Houdini act' having performed it twice en route to the final and also have players who can rise to the occasion.
