Al-Sadd head coach Razvan Lucescu stressed that the Wolves are ready to face Iranian side Esteghlal in their opening match of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Romanian coach said: “It is a new competition and different from the domestic league. Esteghlal are a strong team and have good players.
“We have to stay focused from the start of the match to get a positive result, and we must give our maximum effort to achieve that.”
Speaking about the welcome the team received in Basra, Iraq, the Al-Sadd coach said: “I am very happy with the warm welcome we received in Basra. I would like to thank everyone for this wonderful reception and for making us feel so welcome.”
Lucescu stressed that Al-Sadd must be 100 per cent focused on the pitch to get a positive result, adding: “We have some injured players back in Doha, but all the players who are here in Basra are fully ready.”
Lucescu concluded: “We have a tough match against Esteghlal ahead of us. We have to focus on each game at the right time and give our best to achieve what we are aiming for.”
Meanwhile, Al-Sadd defender Pedro Miguel stressed the importance of preparing well for the clash with Esteghlal, saying: “There are no easy matches in the AFC Champions League Elite, and we have to be ready for that.
“We will give our best to secure victory and take all three points, which would give Al-Sadd a strong start to this year’s competition.”
