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Al Ain hope to turn around fortunes against City in CWC

Al Ain lost to Juventus in the Club World Cup opener 0-5

Jai Rai (Assistant Editor)

1 MIN READ

Juventus' Francisco Conceicao and Al Ain's Amadou Niang (right) compete for the ball during the Club World Cup Group G football match against Al Ain in Washington, Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Dubai: Al Ain didn't have the kind of dream start they wanted at the Club World Cup having lost to Juventus 0-5 in the opener.

But Al Ain defender Marcel Ratnik said the team has put the disappointing performance behind and is gearing up for their important match against Manchester City on Monday.

Also Read: Goalkeeper Eisa should start for Al Ain against Manchester City in Club World Cup

"We are working extensively to rectify the mistakes we committed during the opening match and prepare for the next match against Manchester City," he said.

"We are well aware that the previous result was not satisfactory at all and we have have pledged to change it and improve our team's performance," he added.

Al Ain's opening show has put the team under pressure and are lying in the bottom of the table and desperately need a win to put themselves back into contention.

“We do believe in our team and our capability to return. Al Ain football club is considered a champion football team, we also have everything we need to deliver a brilliant and big performance against City,” the 23-year-old noted.

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Wydad AC and are second in the table behind Juventus.

Assistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.