Mahdi Ali praises his team's qualification to the round of 16 despite being subjected to "wrong arbitration decisions"

Shabab Al-Ahly is the only representative of the UAE in Asia until 2023

  • The joy of Al-Ahly youth players after their qualification.

    From the source

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Shabab Al-Ahly coach, Mahdi Ali, praised his team’s qualification to the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, pointing out that the AFC must reconsider the decision not to apply video technology in the group stage of the continental championship, stressing the importance of its presence, and that the youth of Al-Ahly was subjected to many wrong decisions on the part of the rulers, in light of the failure to use the “mouse”.

Shabab Al-Ahly qualified for the round of 16 after drawing 1-1 with Foolad Khuzestan of Iran, the day before yesterday, in the sixth and final round of Group C matches, after the Iranian team advanced with a penalty kick scored by the Brazilian Luciano, and Shabab Al-Ahly tied through player Yahya Al-Ghasani, to occupy Dubai Knights is second in the group with 10 points, and Foolad topped the ranking list with 12 points.

Al-Ahly youth benefited from the stumble of the Iraqi Air Force, which lost to Mumbai City, India, with a goal without a response, and the loss of Saudi Al-Taawoun against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor by five goals to four, to qualify “Dubai Knights” among the top three clubs that ranked second in the five groups of West Asian clubs. .

Al-Ahly youth became the only representative of the Emirates in the round of 16 after Sharjah and Al Jazeera officially exited the tournament.

Shabab Al-Ahly will continue its journey in the round of 16 of the Asian Championship in early 2023, because the tournament will stop this year to allow the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar.

Mahdi Ali said, in a press conference: “The match was strong on a physical level, and fatigue appeared on the two teams due to the heat and humidity, as the heat of the weather contributed to affecting the performance in general, while I thank the players for the effort they made, and we are happy to qualify for a price.” Final".

And he talked about video technology, and said: "The Asian Football Confederation must reconsider the arbitration, and the need to use video technology, as the team was affected by the decisions of the referees last season, and the penalty kick awarded to Foolad's team was preceded by a violation that the referee did not calculate."

The coach pointed out that the team missed many opportunities in the first half, indicating that the forced substitutions affected the technical staff's choices in making the changes. The team and the necessary changes we made.”

He continued, "Qualifying is a good thing for the team, and we look forward to preparing the players well for the next stage, and what we have achieved will give the players more confidence in the future."

In response to a question about the reason for replacing Argentine Federico Cartabia early in the first half, he said: “Cartabia was in pain before the match, after he was hit by a strong blow in the previous meeting, and when he felt pain after 15 minutes, we preferred to replace him, and Majed Hassan also suffers The pain led to his substitution, and I hope they return better in the next matches.”

On the pressure of the matches awaiting the team, Mahdi said: “We have a match on the 30th of this month against Al Ain in the professional league, and then on the fourth of May the cup final match against Al Ain as well, so we rested some players, because the performance of eight or seven matches, in a short period It is difficult, so we seek to rotate and give the players the required rest.”

Mahdi Ali:

• «The Asian Confederation must reconsider the use of the (mouse) technique».

• "What we have achieved will give the players more confidence in the future."

• “Cartabia was suffering from pain, and Majed Hassan also suffered from pain that led to his replacement.”


“Performing eight or seven matches in a short period of time is difficult.”

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