Al-Sadd head coach Felix Sanchez confirmed that his team is fully prepared to face Al-Gharafa in Matchweek 17 of the Ooredoo Stars League. The match is set to take place on Thursday evening at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Spanish coach said: “We have another very important match on Thursday against Al-Gharafa. At this stage of the league, we need to secure points in every game if we want to close the gap and put pressure on Al-Duhail.”
He continued: “We are level on points with Al-Gharafa, so we understand that this match will be crucial for the league standings. We are looking forward to it with great enthusiasm.”
Sanchez also highlighted the players’ confidence, stating: “We are confident in our physical readiness for the game. Of course, our last match was like a final to keep us in the title race, and I expect the next match against Al-Gharafa to be just as important. If we want to compete for the title until the end, securing a positive result on Thursday is essential, and that is our current focus.”
He concluded: “We know that the fixture schedule in the coming weeks will be packed, especially with our participation in the AFC Champions League. But for now, our full focus is on the Al-Gharafa match, as it holds great significance for us.”
Rafa Mujica: We Must Give Everything to Beat Al-Gharafa
Al-Sadd forward Rafa Mujica described the upcoming match against Al-Gharafa as extremely difficult, saying: “The match against Al-Gharafa will be very tough, and we must give everything we have to secure the win and collect three points. Hopefully, things will go our way.”
The Spanish striker added: “The title race will remain challenging until the very last moment. We will fight until the end, but we are motivated. If we avoid mistakes, we have a real chance to win the league.”