Al Ain player, Moroccan Hussein Rahimi, stated that his team possesses the character of champions and the ability to handle the most difficult situations. He noted that scoring the decisive goal for Al Ain against Shabab Al Ahli in a crucial moment reflects the team's spirit and the players' determination to fight until the last minute, regardless of pressure or the difficulty of competition. Rahimi led his team Al Ain to an exciting 3-2 victory over Shabab Al Ahli in the 22nd round of the Pro League. He scored the winning goal in the 87th minute, granting 'The Leader' three valuable points and boosting its lead at the top of the league standings, four points ahead of Shabab Al Ahli. Rahimi came on as a substitute in the 78th minute instead of Togolese Laba Kodjo, and shortly after his appearance, he succeeded in leaving his mark with a decisive goal that ended the match, confirming his role as one of the key assets in the team's lineup. Rahimi told 'Al Ittihad': 'The match was tough, and I wasn't in the starting lineup. There was great pressure from the fans, the closeness of points, and the competition for the top spot, especially against a big team like Shabab Al Ahli, last season's champions.' He added: 'At Al Ain, we always play under pressure, and we are used to it. We managed to secure the win for our benefit and to please our fans.' Regarding Al Ain's proximity to clinching the title, he clarified: 'There are still matches left, and we haven't secured anything yet. We will celebrate today, and from tomorrow, we will start thinking about the upcoming matches.' About his decisive goal, he said: 'Maybe I had a feeling, but the most important thing is hard work and good training.' Rahimi also spoke about the role of his older brother Sofyan Rahimi in supporting him, saying: 'He has a big role; he is a special player and one of the best in Asia, and he helps me a lot, as well as Captain Khalid Eisa and the other players. Everyone provides great support within the team.' Meanwhile, Al Ain player, Argentine Matias Barrios, praised his teammate Hussein Rahimi for his decisive role in achieving the victory, confirming that he deserves what he has achieved, given the great work he does within the team, even during periods when he doesn't play regularly. Barrios said: 'I want to thank him because he works very hard, and even when he doesn't play much, he continues to train with the same spirit, and he deserves what he achieved today.' He added: 'We put in a great performance, but for me, this win is just three points. We can't say we are champions now; there are still a number of important matches ahead.'
