Felix Sanchez reacts during the match.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd head coach Felix Sanchez believes small details will determine the outcome of their AFC Champions League (ALC) Elite Round of 16 tie following a 1-1 draw against Al Wasl in the first leg in Dubai on Monday.
Al Wasl took the lead early in the match through a goal from Ali Saleh, but Al Sadd responded in the second half with an equaliser from Abdulla Al Yazidi.
“As I expected, the match was tight and competitive between the two teams,” Sanchez said after the match.
“We conceded a difficult goal in the first half, and we could have dealt with the ball better. However, in the second half, we controlled the game and had possession of the ball. We did lose two players to injury, and we will see how we can recover them in the coming days.”
Sanchez added that the team made adjustments to their formation, which helped them contain Al Wasl’s attacks, particularly on the flanks.
“We changed our organisation slightly and didn’t allow them to play through the middle. Their attacks mainly came from the wings, and we were able to deal with them much better,” he added.
The 1-1 draw leaves everything to play for in the second leg in Doha.
“In such matches, small details make the difference, and we have to control as many aspects as possible. In the next match, we’ll look to maintain greater control throughout the game,” Sanchez said.
On the other hand, Al Wasl head coach Milos Milojevic was confident in his team’s performance, despite the draw. “I think we played really well and were the better team overall,” Milojevic said.
“We only allowed Al Sadd two chances, but unfortunately, the second one proved costly for us. I’m happy with the way we played.”
“We performed very well, and in both directions, we were well-organised. If we had a bit more luck, we could have been in a better position for the second leg. Everything will be decided there. It’s not going to be easy, but if we want to advance, we have to win – whether it’s in regular time, extra time, or any other way.”
The second leg of the tie will take place at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday.
