Al Duhail players during a training session.
Doha: Al Duhail assistant coach Sebastian Domingo has said it is tough to replace Edmilson Junior but stressed The Red Knights can achieve positive results by continuing to give collective effort on the field.
Edmilson was ruled out for four to six weeks of action after suffering an injury during their QNB Stars League (QSL) clash against Al Rayyan last week.
“It is difficult to find a suitable replacement for Edmilson,” Domingo told a press conference ahead of the Week 4 clash against Al Markhiya at the Khalifa International Stadium, today.
“He is a good dribbler and gives many options in attack, an important player for the league and not only for Al Duhail but we will compensate for his absence. We must work on the field collectively, which is what are known for.”
The Red Knights have earned four points from their first three games, while promoted Al Markhiya have also secured four points.
Domingo said a win over Al Rayyan in a tough match boosted his team’s confidence, which will help them in the match.
"Al Markhiya are strong team and we face a difficult match ahead. The match is open, but we have to work to find space to facilitate our attacks,” he said.
“Our victory over Al Rayyan in the previous round was very important because it helped instil confidence in the players and gave them the belief to continue their strong performance. Although the team presented a good level in the first and second rounds, luck was not on our side and we didn’t get the desired results,” Domingo added.
The assistant coach will be in charge in absence of head coach Hernan Crespo, who received a red card in the previous match.
Meanwhile, Al Markhiya coach Abdullah Mubarak said his team is ready for a challenging match, saying absence of players will not affect The Red Knights.
“Al Duhail are a strong team with experienced players and achievements, and absences will not affect them. We focus on our team with preparatory sessions to explain the technical aspects and raise the morale after the loss to Al Arabi,” he said.
“We studied the opponents comprehensively regarding their weaknesses and strengths, and we need to redouble efforts, focus, perseverance and good organization on the field,” Mubarak added.
Al Wakrah and Qatar SC will face off in today’s other match at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The Blue Waves, who finished third the last season, are on second with seven points behind leaders Al Arabi while Qatar SC are ninth on the table with four points.
