Yokohama v Al Ain: UAE side backed to grasp 'historic opportunity' in ACL final

Al Ain’s current crop deserve their place in history as they look this month to secure a second Asian Champions League for the club, according to their team supervisor.

The UAE side, the only club from the Emirates to be crowned continental champions, are seeking to emulate their celebrated 2003 predecessors when they take on Yokohama F Marinos across two legs in the final.

Al Ain have travelled to Japan for the first leg at the Yokohama International Stadium on Saturday, before they host their rivals for the trophy at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in the return fixture on May 25.

Al Ain last contested a Champions League final in 2016 – their third overall – while the Marinos have never before reached the showpiece.

Speaking on Thursday, once the Al Ain party had landed in Japan, team supervisor Mohammed Obaid Hammad said: “The players have a historic opportunity to acquire glory and write golden chapters in the sky of Asian football.

“But we fully respect the ambitions of our opponent also. However, our players have shown their high capabilities and great desire to reflect the supreme care, generous support and increased attention they have received from the club's leadership, and turn it into an outstanding performance and remarkable results.

“Our goal is driven by the players’ sincere love for the UAE and their absolute belief that their mission is 100 per cent for the country.”

Al Ain saw off Saudi Arabia’s two top teams en route the final, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr in the quarter-final via a penalty shoot-out in April before dispatching Al Hilal 5-4 on aggregate in the last four earlier this month.

Record four-time Asian champions, the 4-2 defeat in the first leg in the UAE, halted Al Hilal’s 34-match win