Erik 'very grateful' to be part of Al Ain's quest for Asian Champions League success

Despite being bogged down somewhat by the protective boot on his right foot, a consequence of the injury that curtailed his Asian Champions League semi-final, Erik still lit up at the thought of what had just passed.

And, more importantly, of what is to come.

“Bro, too much emotion for me,” the Al Ain full-back told The National, as the sensation of firing the club to a first continental final in almost a decade began to sink in. “Only God knows what I give in the last months … in my life.

“Always, when I go to training – the extra training, [eating the right] food, [getting enough] sleep – I do my best because the life of a professional player is like this. You need to work.

“And to get this gift from God today? I’m very happy for this.”

Al Ain fans will be grateful, too, for Erik’s contribution, however limited on the night it was. The Brazil-born defender struck the equaliser in the second leg against Al Hilal in Riyadh on Tuesday – a goal that ultimately proved decisive.

Al Ain lost the encounter 2-1 at Kingdom Arena but, having triumphed 4-2 in last week’s corresponding match in the Garden City, they prevailed 5-4 on aggregate.

As such, the 2003 Asian champions – Al Ain remain the only UAE side to lift the trophy – saw off the record, four-time winners to book a place in next month’s showpiece.

For Erik, it was the pleasure after the pain. Moments after his 11th-minute strike in the second leg, he went down under a challenge from Saud Abdulhamid and had to soon be substituted. Much to his anguish, he watched the remainder of a fraught match from the bench.

Hilal, needing another goal to force extra time, wasted a succession of golden chances in the second half to rescue the tie. To be fair, goalkeeper Khalid Essa