Marcus Berg, Tsukasa Shiotani are great assets

Al Ain coach Zoran Mamic believes that the acquisitions of Swedish international Marcus Berg and Japanese centre back Tsukasa Shiotani will be great additions and assets to the team and requested the club to retain striker Dyanfres Douglas.

The Croatian manager has called up a strong 31-man squad for their pre-season camp in Austria and most of the players and the coaching staff left by a private jet from Al Ain International Airport on Friday morning.

Prior to the squad's departure, Mamic spoke about the importance of the pre-season camp as they go about fighting for silverware on two fronts - domestic and continental - in the new season.

"Personally, I'm very happy that the club signed contracts with Marcus Berg and Tsukasa Shiotani. I believe that they are top quality players and they will be great additions and assets for Al Ain FC," Mamic said in a statement released by the club, on Friday.

"I also hope that the club management will approve my request of keeping Douglas. He is a good player and fits in well with the style of play at Al Ain," he added.

Swedish striker Berg was signed from Greek side Panathinaikos for two seasons, while Shiotani joined from J1 League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, also on a two-year deal, in the summer.

Berg replaced Saudi Arabia striker Nasser Al Shamrani, who returned returned to Al Hilal after his loan spell. Meanwhile, Shiotani fills the boots of South Korean midfielder Lee Myung Joo, who ended his three-year stint with Al Ain to return home for mandatory military service.

The duo have joined Brazilian winger Caio, who arrived from J1 side Kashima Antlers, with Shiotani taking the Asian slot.

Douglas, who was out of favour after missing a crucial penalty in the AFC Champions League final defeat against South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors last year, is perhaps back in the scheme of things after Mamic's request.

Meanwhile, about the pre-season camp, Mamic said: "For any football team, a pre-season camp is very important for the new season. It will help the players prepare and perform as required to win all the strong encounters locally as well as continentally. Everybody should put more effort and show their best. We have to reach our targets."

The squad had assembled on July 10 and underwent medicals before starting the first phase of the training camp.

The pre-season camp in Austria will run until August 12 and Al Ain are scheduled to play friendlies against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli (July 26) and Germany's Hertha Berlin (August 7). Mamic is also keen on playing against another German side FC Cologne prior to their return to the UAE.

Three Olympic team players, who are representing the UAE in the AFC Under-23 qualifiers, will join the squad in Austria on July 20.

Al Ain are in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League and take on Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in the first leg at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on August 21. The return leg is on September 11 at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Source: Khaleej Times