Al Arabi players during a training session ahead of the quarter-final.
Doha: Al Arabi coach Younes Ali has said his team will fire on all cylinders to reach the Amir Cup final as they take on Second Division side Muaither in the quarter-final at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, tonight.
The Dream Team has been in good form this season particularly in the top flight QNB Stars League, where they are second behind Al Duhail, who have already clinched the Ooredoo Cup and Qatar Cup titles this season.
Younes’ side reached the quarter-final with a 3-0 victory over Al Shamal with coach saying his team must give its best in quest to reach the title clash.
“Our goal is to make it to the final, no matter who we’re up against, be it from the First or Second Division. We have respect for Muaither, they have a coach with lots of experience in Qatari football, and they’ve done well in the Second Division. But we’re not scared of any team in this tournament,” said Younes ahead of the quarter-final, which will kick off at 9:45pm.
Al Arabi last qualified for the Amir Cup final in the 2020 edition finishing as runners-up after losing to Al Sadd 2-1.
Al Arabi’s Ahmed Suhail, meanwhile, was expecting a strong challenge from Muaither.
“It’s going to be a tough game for both sides, and we’re going to follow the coach’s instructions to win. All our players are ready for the challenge, and we’re not afraid of any striker or team,” he said.
Muaither will make history if they beat Al Arabi today as they will become first Second Division side to reach the Amir Cup final.
Muaither coach Jose Murcia was relishing the Amir Cup quarter-final clash, hoping his team to maintain good show in the prestigious tournament after shocking Al Ahli in the Round of 16.
“Qualifying for the quarter-finals is a great achievement for any team from the Second Division, and our goal in the next round is to enjoy playing in the tournament and try to achieve the best positive result,” Murcia told a pre-match press conference.
“Al Arabi is a big team and the strongest currently in the Qatar Stars League. We do not forget the difficulty of the match, but we will try to prove ourselves in front of everyone.”
Muaither’s Moayad Shanan said: “This will be one of the most difficult matches we will play this season, but it is a real incentive for us to achieve a positive result for the club and the players. There is nothing impossible in football, and we look forward to enjoying the game.”
After the first quarter-final, Al Gharafa will meet Al Shahania tomorrow at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, which will also host the third quarter-final between defending champions Al Duhail and Al Sailiya on Monday.
Al Sadd will take on Umm Salal in the final last 8 clash at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium the next day.
