Felix Sanchez, head coach of Al Sadd, described the upcoming match against Al Rayyan in Week 20 of the Expo Stars League as tough and challenging.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Al Sadd coach said: “We have a strong and difficult match ahead of us against Al Rayyan. The first-leg encounter was very balanced and was decided in the final minutes after being completely open. So, we’re expecting another tough game against a high-level team.”
Sanchez added: “Al Rayyan have a complete squad with standout players in the front line who can make the difference. We hope to put in a good performance. We’ve been strong contenders in the second half of the season and have delivered well in most matches.”
He continued: “Our goal is to maintain this level, especially as we enter the final three matches of the league. We need the points to get closer to the top of the table.”
The Spanish coach noted that while the two teams are in different positions in the standings, the points gap doesn’t matter in matches like these, where both sides are determined to win.
“We’ll prepare in the best way possible, taking into consideration the available players, so we can be ready for a tough game against a side that will require us to be at our very best to continue our recent positive run.”
Meanwhile, Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham emphasized the importance of proper preparation ahead of the upcoming clash against Al Rayyan.
“Al Rayyan is a strong team, and we’re aiming for the win to keep competing for the league title. Every game is like a final for us, and we are determined to secure victory in this next match,” said Barsham.
He added: “Everyone knows how tough the competition is this season. It’s a big challenge for us to win the league. We’re currently one point behind the leader, and I believe we can win the title if we succeed in our upcoming matches. We’re counting on the support of our fans in this upcoming Clasico.”
