Manchester City are coming to Abu Dhabi to take on Al Ain FC in a friendly on May 15. TOAD talks to Asamoah Gyan, star striker at Al Ain FC, to find out more.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming match against Manchester City? Are you looking forward to it?
Manchester City are a top club with world-class players so all the players here at Al Ain are looking forward to the match. They are one of the best teams in Europe at the moment and they have proved that over the past few years. By the time we play them they might be Premier League champions as well, which will make the match even more special for us.
What do you know about the Manchester City team? Having you been watching the Premier League this year?
The English Premier League is probably the best league in the world. I know that from personal experience, having competed myself. It should be a great game for us to
test ourselves against one of the best.
Are you still excited to play the match even though it’s a friendly?
It will be the first time I have come up against a Premier League team since I left England so I am very much looking forward to it, even though it is a friendly. It’s a game that all the players here want to be part of, for sure, so there will be some disappointed players in the changing room when the team sheet is announced.
Is there a particular player at Manchester City you’re most looking forward to playing against?
They have so many quality players that it is difficult to choose one. They have a very strong defence and the midfield is creative and good on the ball. The strikers they have are known all over the world and their goalkeeper is the England goalkeeper for the World Cup, so we know it will be a very tough game, but also an enjoyable one, not just for us but for the fans of both teams.
What does the game mean for Al Ain and the local community?
The game will be a great spectacle. To have Manchester City come to the Hazza Bin Zayed stadium will be a great event for everyone involved with the club, the community and Al Ain. The Hazza Bin Zayed stadium is a world-class venue and this will be the first time it has been on the world stage. I am sure we will do the team, the fans and the city proud.
Al Ain FC will play Manchester City on May 15. Tickets Dhs25-500. Gates open at 5pm, kick off at 7pm. Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.ae.
