Furious Bonacic berates Mes ‘tourists’

AFC – DUBAI, Furious Mes Kerman boss Luka Bonacic laid into his side for a lacklustre display after a 2-1 defeat to Al Ahli saw the Iranians’ hopes of making the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League suffer a severe blow.

Farzad Hosseinkhani’s unfortunate own goal had given the home side the lead after 30 minutes of the Group C game at Al Rashid Stadium and although Mahdi Rajabzadeh levelled in the 74th minute, Ahmad Khalil’s penalty seven minutes from the end wrapped up Al Ahli’s first win of their 2010 campaign.

With Al Sadd drawing 0-0 at Al Hilal, it means the Qataris will now qualify for the last 16 if they beat Al Ahli at home in their final game.

Bonacic, though, was seething at his side’s performance.

“This was not the standard of AFC level,” fumed the Croatian.

“This was like a friendly match. I’m disappointed with my players. I played twice in the Champions League and coached Sepahan, who went to the final.

“OK, Al Ahli play as they can. I respect them. But my team were like tourists on a holiday.

“The first goal who scored, Ahli or us? And the penalty kick, I don’t know whether it was penalty or not. Anyway, congratulations to the Ahli team.”

Bonacic was also highly critical of the general attitude shown by his players.

“Their mentality is the problem,” he added.

“They don’t accept training and there is no discipline. When I do something they put pressure on me through officials.

“When players don’t come four days in the week for training and everyone in club says he must play, is it normal? No. That is the result tonight.

“I know Ahli cannot beat Al Sadd. We have six points already but I’m angry with my players because we discussed every tactical point in the last few days. But they disappointed today.”

In stark contrast, Al Ahli coach Noureddine Abidi Al Obaidly took great pride in his men after they registered their first AFC Champions League win in five years.

“It was a very tough match because the Iranian team needed three points to qualify to the next round,” said the Tunisian.

“But my team played very well, the way I wanted them to play. I’m very happy with these three points, which are the first since 2005.

“Mes Kerman put pressure on us by equalising but we made two changes by bringing in Bare and Salem Khamis.”

Al Ahli would need to beat Al Sadd by six goals in their final game and hope Mes lose to Al Hilal to pull off the most unlikely of turnarounds and reach the knockout stage but Al Obaidly was keen just to savour Wednesday’s win.

“We will think about the next match later. If we have one per cent chance of qualifying we will play accordingly,” he added.

“Mes Kerman are a very strong team. They had more than four chances to score.

“To be honest I was afraid of them before the match because they had beaten Al Sadd 3-1 and Ahli 4-2.

“We packed the defence because they have so many good players even on the bench. I think they will do very well in their final match against Al Hilal.”