Al Sadd coach Juan Manuel Lillo (left) and Umm Salal coach Talal El Karkouri during separate press conferences ahead of the Amir Cup quarter-final between their teams to be played tonight.
Doha: A drought of silverware in a domestic season is something which Al Sadd are not familiar of but this year the Qatar football giants are facing this threat.
With Al Duhail winning the Ooredoo Cup and the Qatar Cup titles already, besides building a strong lead in the QNB Stars League (QSL), Juan Manuel Lillo’s Al Sadd are left with just one opportunity to win a trophy this season – the Amir Cup.
The Wolves are the most successful side in the prestigious tournament as they are seeking a record-extending 19th crown in the competition, which is in its 51st edition.
They need to win three matches to achieve the remarkable feat with a spirited Umm Salal up against them first in tonight’s quarter-final to be played at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
The Wolves are returning to action after suffering heartbreak in the Qatar Cup final on Thursday when they lost to Al Duhail in the final.
Lillo is hoping for a strong comeback from his side after missing a chance to lift the first title of the season.
“We are coming back to action after a loss to Al Duhail but that defeat will not affect our performance,” Al Sadd coach Juan Manuel Lillo said at a pre-match press conference.
“All tournaments are different from one another and they have their own importance but Amir Cup is special. It is also giving us a chance to secure at least one trophy this season and we will do everything in our capacity to regain this prestigious title for our fans. We will give our best in the QSL also and will try to win all the remaining matches.”
Al Sadd last won the Amir Cup title in 2021 with Al Duhail winning the previous edition.
Lillo, meanwhile, was expecting a strong challenge from Umm Salal, who did well in the Ooredoo Cup beating Al Arabi in the semi-final before going down against Al Duhail in the final.
“Umm Salal are not easy opponents. They have recently played the final of Ooredoo Cup and I am expecting a difficult challenge from them. But we are aiming for victory and move closer to the final,” Al Sadd coach said.
Sitting aside the coach, seasoned Al Sadd player Rodrigo Tabata said only title triumph would suffice Al Sadd in the tournament.
“The Amir Cup is our only shot at winning the title this season. We will give our best against every team we play and we are aware Umm Salal will not be easy especially after recent changes in their team,” he said.
“We are sad to miss the opportunity of winning the Qatar Cup but we are determined for the Amir Cup triumph and we will give our best possible show,” Tabata added.
Umm Salal coach Talal El Karkouri, meanwhile, was hoping for an upset against Al Sadd.
“All teams who made it to the quarter-finals have an equal opportunity to progress to the next round. All Sadd will be giving their all in this match after losing the Qatar Cup final. But I believe in the abilities of my players and our desire to qualify for the semi-final is high,” he said.
Umm Salal player Vinicius Araujo said: “In football nothing is impossible. I’ve been told by everyone about how crucial this tournament especially this upcoming game which we are aiming to win. We must stick to coach’s plan to secure a win. Both teams have equal chances to win this match.”
