Machín signs for the bottom of Saudi Arabia

Asia tries again with Paul Machin. The Soriano was announced as the new coach of the Al Ain, of the Saudi Professional League (Saudi Arabia First Division), although it remains to be seen if he joins the team or, otherwise, backs down as he did after being introduced by Chinese Qingdao Huanghai. If all goes according to plan, Machín will embark on his first adventure abroad just two weeks after being dismissed as Alavés coach, which he led for 20 games in which he achieved a balance of six wins, six draws and eight losses. The Spaniard was presented with a video in which Sergio Ramos sings 'La Roja Baila', the official song of Spain for the 2016 European Championship.

Pablo Machín has before him a very complicated challenge, because Al Ain is bottom of the Saudi First Division and has five consecutive defeats. The Spanish will replace the German Michael Skibbe, in charge of the team since last November. Al Ain, based in Al Bahah, in western Saudi Arabia, was founded in 1978 but did not rise to First Division until last September, when it earned a place in the elite after finishing third in the silver category of soccer. Saudi. In the year of his debut in the elite, Al Ain has old acquaintances from LaLiga on its squad, such as Venezuelan Juanpi, a former Málaga player, or Croatian Filip Bradaric, who played for Celta de Vigo in the 2019/20 season.

After 15 rounds played in the Saudi Professional League, Al Ain is bottom with 10 points, seven less than a Batin who marks the salvation with 17 points. A gigantic challenge for Pablo Machín, who will live his first adventure abroad in Asia after directing Numancia, Girona, Seville, Espanyol and Alavés in Spain. The situation in the table of the new team of the 45-year-old coach from Soria contrasts with that of the other Spanish coach in the competition, Carlos Inarejos, who occupies the leadership at the controls of the Al Shabab de Éver Banega, which he has directed since the departure of Pedro Caixinha last January.