Al Sadd players during a training session, yesterday.
Doha: Al Sadd can comfortably retain the QNB Stars League (QSL) title by doing what they been doing this season – claiming points in every match they play.
This is what head coach Javi Gracia has told The Wolves as they take on struggling Al Sailiya in their Round 12 clash at the Qatar SC Stadium, today.
The reigning champions are leading the points standings with 28 points – nine wins and a draw – with a game in hand as their Round 11 clash was postponed after spread of COVID-19 among Al Wakrah players and an official.
Gracia said the team got enough time to prepare for the tie after the postponement, and players’ intentions in Al Sailiya clash will be same – to give their best performance in their first match of 2022.
“It’s the next step for us and we are ready to compete with our best level, and this is our mentality. We try to always be focused on the next game, and we try to do our best,” Gracia told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
The Spaniard said postponement of match against Al Wakrah will not affect his team’s momentum, who have just dropped points once this season after a 3-3 draw against second-placed Al Duhail – 25 points from 11 games – in November.
“I don’t think about the postponement. It happened and we have to adapt to the new schedule. We have to adapt to the new game. We will have time in the future to play this game against Al Wakrah. I don’t want to complain about these kinds of things,” the Al Sadd head coach said.
Gracia also ruled out any chances of complacency against Al Sailiya, who are on the bottom of the points table with only five points.
“Before the game, I don’t stop to see where the position of our next opponent is in the table. The best mentality is to be demanding of ourselves, and not look at our opponent’s situation. We have to always give our best and compete with our 100%; this is the best way.”
Al Sadd midfielder Ali Asad said: “We are playing for the title and aim to get the win in order to increase the gap with our competitors.”
Meanwhile, Al Sailiya are desperate to make a turnaround, with head coach Sami Trabelsi eyeing winter transfer period to reverse his team’s fortunes.
“We will strengthen our ranks during the winter transfer period and this is an inevitable matter,” said Trabelsi.
“Al Sadd are a distinguished team but we will go into this game without any pressure and will try to perform well,” he added.
“Our last place in the standings certainly increases the psychological pressure on us, but we have players with great experience and who are able to overcome this crisis.”
Al Sailiya captain Majdi Siddiq said: “We will work hard to regain our reputation. We, the players, have promised to make every effort to get out of the difficult situation we are in.”
In other matches today, Al Gharafa will meet Al Shamal at Al Ahli Stadium while Qatar SC will host Al Ahli.
