Felix Sanchez, Al Sadd’s head coach, described the match against UAE’s Al Wasl as a tough and competitive encounter in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Sanchez said: “As expected, it was a tight and intense game between both teams. We conceded a difficult goal in the first half, and we could have dealt with the situation better.”
He continued: “In the second half, we controlled the game and had more possession. Unfortunately, we lost two players due to injury, and we will assess their recovery in the coming days. We adjusted our structure slightly, preventing them from playing through the middle. As a result, most of their attacks came from the flanks, which we managed better.”
Sanchez emphasized that the 1-1 result keeps everything open for the second leg in Doha. He added: “In these kinds of matches, small details make the difference, and we need to control as many aspects as possible. In the next game, we will aim for greater control throughout the match.”
