Al Ahli bidding to make UAE and the Middle East proud in Asia showpiece

Thursday, 19 November 2015 18:24

Dubai’s Al Ahli are bidding to become only the second UAE team ever to win Asia’s biggest club competition, the AFC Champions League. The Red Knights take on Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande in the second leg of this year’s final on Saturday with the tie evenly poised at 0-0. And speaking exclusively to ARN, the club’s director of football Roy Aitken says the team will do everything to make the UAE, and the Middle East as a region, proud.

Roy Aikten

Meanwhile, Aitken insists Ahli's players will not be intimidated by a hostile 60,000 capacity crowd at the Tianhe Stadium. Guangzhou will start the match as favourites owing to their home advantage, but Ahli will not be without their own support after Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and president of the club, paid for over 400 fans to travel to China for the game And Aitken believes that, as well as the experience in Ahli's squad means they won't be daunted by what awaits them on Saturday afternoon.

Roy Aitken

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