Al-Sadd head coach Felix Sanchez described the upcoming match against Al-Duhail as a crucial encounter for his team. The match is set to take place on Saturday evening at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium as part of Matchweek 16 of the Ooredoo Stars League.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sanchez stated:
“We have a very tough match on Saturday against the league leaders. It is a decisive match for us, and we are fully aware of that. Our goal is to win and secure the three points, and that’s what we will try to achieve.”
He added:
“We know our opponents have many strengths, but I believe we are ready for this challenge. We will do our best to deliver a strong performance and compete at the highest level.”
Regarding the title race, Sanchez commented:
“We are now in the second half of the season, and this will be our fifth match. I wouldn’t say the result will be decisive, but failing to win will make it much harder to catch up with them.”
He concluded:
“We are confident and optimistic. We will focus on playing our style of football and achieving a positive result on our home ground.”
Akram Afif: No Room for Defeat Against Al-Duhail
Al-Sadd star Akram Afif emphasized the importance of the match against Al-Duhail, saying:
“We have a crucial and decisive game ahead of us. There is no room for defeat, as losing would end all our hopes of competing for the title.”
He continued:
“The support of the Al-Sadd fans is extremely important for us, especially since the match is on our home ground. We need their backing.”
Afif also dismissed any notion of pressure on the team, stating:
“We do not feel any pressure. We play as one unit and always support each other. Al-Sadd is a big club that competes strongly in all tournaments, both domestically and internationally.”
