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Dalic shoots straight from the heart

Zlatko Dalic is a man who has always preferred to remain in the background and let his team Al Ain take the credit. Usually quiet and reserved, Dalic could hold no longer to the anguish that was eating him up over the past few months.
Everyone has a limit and Dalic reached his as he gave a perfect riposte to the critics who questioned his future with the club. Critics as well as some section of the fans had questioned Dalic's future on social media following Al Ain's exit in the AFC Champions League last time out.
Al Ain drew 3-3 with Dubai club Al Ahli in the return leg of their Round of 16 clash in the Asian competition but lost out on a quarterfinal berth on away goals after the first leg had ended in a goalless stalemate.
After Al Ain broke another record by clinching a fifth Arabian Gulf Super Cup and their third in the professional era, Dalic took the opportunity to hit back at his critics.
"I will be honest with you now. When we drew with Al Ahli and went out of the AFC Champions League, there was so much that was said. I didn't say anything and went home and took rest. I didn't want to give any comment," Dalic said straight from the heart, after 'The Boss' defeated Al Nasr 4-2 at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
And he went on to speak about his record with the club. "In one-and-a-half years since I took over, I have won three trophies. Nobody in the history of Al Ain has done that. Tell me one big name who has done that as coach?" questioned the 48-year-old.
"I have been here for one-and-a-half years and not five years. But I took the Presidents Cup, the League and now the Super Cup. But the problem is because I'm quiet. I didn't want to fight and I believe in doing my job. I'm not bothered about anybody. I know what my job is and that is to win trophies with Al Ain, and more importantly, be honest," he said.
"When we out of the Champions League everybody attacked me. I check in the last 12 years, three times Al Ain went past the group stages and two times was with me," he added.
Dalic thanked those Al Ain fans who "understand football" but felt there were a certain section who took to social networking sites such a Twitter and Instagram to question is abilities.
"Some sit in their arm chairs, watch TV, sip tea and write what they want on Twitter. I don't know why people attacked me. I had no support from anyone and I was pushing myself on to do the job. For three months I was quiet. I'm the coach of Al Ain club, the biggest club here," said Dalic, who took over in March last year and guided Al Ain to their sixth President's Cup.
"I had to open my heart today as I really needed to bring out what was inside. All I can say is I will work hard for this team till the last day I work with this club. This is my third trophy and I want to thank those Al Ain fans who understand football," added Dalic .