CHELSEA legend Hernan Crespo has been sacked by Abu Dhabi side Al Ain.
The former AC Milan striker watched his side thrashed 5-1 by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night.
They conceded three goals in the opening 37 minutes – including one from Ronaldo.
It extended Al Ain’s winless run to four matches during which they have conceded 14 goals.
And club chiefs had seen enough as they dismissed Crespo, 49, from his position after one year in charge.
Al Ain’s statement explained the decision by insisting “recent results have not met expectations”.
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Crespo’s dismissal comes just six months after he led Al Ain to AFC Champions League glory.
They beat Japanese side Yokohama Marinos 6-3 on aggregate in the final back in May.
The triumph saw them qualify for next summer’s 32-team Club World Cup in the US.
But Crespo’s sacking means he will not be involved after picking up just one point from four AFC Champions League matches so far this season.
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The ex-Argentine striker began his coaching career in Italy in 2015 with Modena.
He spent two years managing in his home country from 2019 to 2021, before he moved to Sao Paulo in Brazil.
When his spell there came to an end, he joined Qatari club Al-Duhail and spent 18 months at the helm.
He was dismissed in October last year after winning 35 of his 50 matches, before he penned a deal with Al Ain just six weeks later.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
