Al Gharafa’s Wesley Sneijder in action during the QNB Stars League match in this file photo.
Doha: Al Duhail this season has been a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s a QNB Stars League (QSL) clash or an Asian Champions League fixture, Djamel Belmadi’s unbeaten team has shown dominant performances against big sides.
However, the supremacy of ‘The Red Knights’ doesn’t bother Al Gharafa star Wesley Sneijder who looks for a win against the in-form opposition in the second semi-final of the prestigious Qatar Cup to be played today at Al Sadd Stadium.
“We are up against a team which is on top this season. Definitely it is going to be a tough match for us,” the former Dutch player said ahead of the semi-final. “Al Duhail are playing very well and they have very good players as well. But when I enter a match I don’t see the strength of the opposition, I just target a victory and I am looking for the same against Al Duhail,” he added.
“This is an important tournament for us and we are targeting to reach the final with a win against Al Duhail,” Sneijder said.
The seasoned midfielder, who joined Al Gharafa in the second half of the season, feels ‘The Cheetahs’ have shown a significant improvement in recent months and have the potential to transform their form into a title triumph.
“We were given a task to finish among top four teams in the QSL and we did that. That’s why we are playing the Qatar Cup. We have good players who are desperate to give good performance. I believe the team has the potential to win the trophy,” Sneijder said.
Al Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun is also hoping for a good show from his team.
“I hope luck will be on our side. We are facing Al Duhail, who have not lost this season in the QNB Stars League,” Uygun said.
“I took over the technical responsibility of Al Gharafa in the second phase at a time when we had a tough time towards the fag end of the first half. However, the available players presented their best and our ambition was to reach the top four. The Qatar Cup is crucial for all clubs. We are seeking the title and are counting on our fans to support us.
“We have a number of injured players, some with minor injuries while others have serious injuries such as Almahdi Ali and Thamer Jamal. They may not play this match. We are all focused on the Al Duhail game and are confident of winning. We are not afraid of Al Duhail, but we respect them.”
Earlier, Belmadi also cautioned his team of a threat from fast-improving Al Gharafa.
“I am happy with my team’s performance this season but we should be focused against Al Gharafa because they are playing very well at the moment. They have quality players who have the potential to shine in big matches,” he said.
The second semi-final of Qatar Cup will kick off at 7pm.
