Italian coach Roberto Mancini confirmed that Al Sadd are fully ready to face Shabab Al Ahli in the Qatar-UAE Super Shield, which will be played on Saturday evening, January 24, 2026, at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Mancini said: “The team is in full readiness after completing its preparations over the past few days for a match in which we are aiming to win and secure our first title of the current season. The match will be difficult, as we are facing a strong opponent with high-quality players.”
Mancini explained that the match is essentially a final for a title that will be decided by small details, requiring maximum effort, high concentration from the players, and the delivery of their best performance.
He pointed out that tomorrow’s match will be different from the previous meeting between the two teams in the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, where Al Sadd claimed victory, adding that motivation is high on both sides.
He added: “In every match we play, we always look for victory, even in the training sessions that precede official matches.”
Mancini continued: “Last season, Al Sadd lost the Super Shield title. This season presents a good opportunity for us to claim the trophy, and everyone is aware of the importance of achieving victory against Shabab Al Ahli.”
For his part, Brazilian Al Sadd forward Roberto Firmino expressed his eagerness, along with his teammates, to give their best in tomorrow’s match and make the fans happy by winning the Super Shield.
Firmino added: “Finals are always exciting and highly competitive. I love this type of match and try to motivate my teammates to put in even more effort to win this title. That’s what we are aiming for.”
He concluded: “We enjoy the support of Al Sadd’s fans and invite them to back us strongly in the match. We know how difficult the game will be against a strong and experienced team, which is why we will play with full focus and think only about victory.”
