Al Ahli manager and former FC Barcelona assistant manager Henk Ten Cate confirmed his resignation while speaking to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website after Qatari side Al Sadd trashed United Arab Emirates team Al Ahli by 5 – 0 in an Asian Champions League fixture.

“I’m deeply ashamed of what has happened. I’m ashamed for Al Ahli Football Club and ashamed for myself. It was the worst day in my career. That’s why after the game I offered my resignation. My decision is final. I’m a proud man, I hate losing. If I lose I must get the feeling that I did my utmost to avoid it. But if you lose without a battle it is pointless.”

“What I saw tonight was not good. There was no fight, no battle. The players didn’t fight for each other. They didn’t stand for each other,” he concluded.

Former Barcelona assistant manager Henk Ten Cate (55) took over Al Ahli at the beginning of February, after leaving Greek side Panathinaikos. It is not yet known whether Ten Cate’s resignation had been accepted.