Al-Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini described his side’s upcoming match against Al Gharafa, in Week 14 of the Doha Bank Stars League, as strong and difficult.
Mancini said during the pre-match press conference: “All league matches are very difficult, and in the upcoming game we will face the team at the top of the table, which makes the match even more challenging. But for us, it is very important to try to win this game.”
The Al Sadd coach continued: “Al Gharafa are five points ahead of us, and for this exact reason we need to win. If we manage to do that, I believe we will reopen the competition for the league title.”
He concluded: “I have great confidence in all the players. We are preparing well for the match with one goal in mind — securing the three points.”
For his part, Brazilian player Claudinho confirmed Al Sadd’s readiness to face Al Gharafa. He added: “It will be a great match. Al Gharafa are at the top of the table and are having a good season. On the other hand, I believe we have also found our rhythm in the league, so I expect a strong and exciting match.”
The Al Sadd midfielder said: “It is a decisive game and we must win under any circumstances if we want to compete for the title. There is no other way to think about it except going for victory. That is why we are working hard. I hope we can execute our game plan, win the match, and collect the three points to reduce the gap.”
