Al Ahli's defender Bogdan Planinic confirmed that the competition for the Professional League title is still open, despite the advantage held by Al Ain in the league table, with a four-point lead after their 3-2 victory in the 'Big Classic' on Friday. He emphasized that his team will continue to fight until the end to close the gap. In a press statement, Planiche said that Al Ain managed to defeat Al Ahli twice this season, which gives them a relative advantage in the title race. He added that his team might have deserved better results in some matches, but football is decided by details and final outcomes. He also stated: 'The feeling of disappointment after a loss in a crucial match is natural, especially with the current point gap and the difficulty of the remaining games. However, the team will try to deal with the situation realistically and positively.' Planiche pointed out that playing against a direct rival in the title chase makes the task more difficult, and Al Ahli was aware of the importance of the match before it started, but ultimately failed to seize their opportunities as required. He continued: 'I congratulate Al Ain on the win; they have achieved strong results this season and deserve to be at the top of the table. But Al Ahli will not give up their chances in the competition. There are still several matches left, and we will fight until the end to try to close the gap and get back into the title race. We will give our best in the upcoming rounds.'
