(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) After being signed up last summer, Marcus Berg had said that Al Ain were the 'Barcelona or Real Madrid of Asia.'
And after playing a big hand in The Boss winning the Arabian Gulf League for the 13th time, the Swedish international said that Al Ain were the best team this season.
"So far, so good. We won the championship so a lot of good feelings and we will now focus on the next target. It was a very good performance from us and I'm very happy," Berg said after his hat-trick against Al Nasr saw the Garden City club wrap up the League with a game to spare.
"First of all, with all the respect to all the other teams, we are the best team. And I think we showed that almost every game. Even if we had a bad day, we managed to take points. We lost only one game, which was a difficult game for us. In the end, we are the best team and we showed it every game and that's why we are the champions," added the 31-year-old.
Al Ain's only loss came against Sharjah in February.
Berg had a slow-burning start to life with Al Ain before stamping his mark. The former Hamburg and Panathinaikos striker is the top goalscorer in the League with 22 goals, and has plundered six goals in the AFC Champions League so far. He also scored one in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
Berg, who joined from Greek side Panathinaikos, said that his family settling in well in the country had left him in a good space to concentrate on his football. And he added that he had been proven right in making the move.
"In the beginning, it is always difficult. New country, new teammates, and you need to find the relationship with all the players. Of course, it takes time. Also, outside football, with the family, it is most important to settle down to have everything good outside with the family, with school, etc. So, when all these things fall in place, you can concentrate on the right things, which is football, why I'm here, to play football. The last part of the season has been very good," he said.
"I focussed on helping the team, first of all, to reach our goals. And now, we have reached one goal and we will continue until the end of the season. We have the President's Cup and the AFC Champions League. And then after, it is the World Cup. I think it was a good move for me," added Berg.
Berg, who is married to Josefine Ringblom and has two children - Leonel and Jolie - also credited his teammates for setting up the goals for him and making him look good.
"We are in good shape, the whole team. We play good offensive football and we create chances. Like I said before, I try to be in the right position and try to get the goals. It is a good feeling and of course, important goals," Berg said.
The League may be done but it is set to be a busy summer for Berg, with three competitions still on his plate. Al Ain are in the semifinal of the President's Cup and also in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League.
But the biggest one of them all is the World Cup. Berg is a key figure for Sweden as they head to Russia for the World Cup in June. And Berg hoped to carry on the form with Al Ain and Sweden.
"When you play good, when you perform well, you have to show every game that you are that good. So, for us, there is no question about it, it is the semifinal in the President's Cup that we have to win and reach the final there. Today and tomorrow we can relax but after that, it is full focus on the President's Cup," he said.
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