Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre (left) and Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jovovic react during press conferences.
Last year’s runners-up Al Rayyan had a topsy-turvy start to the 2020-21 QNB Stars League season winning just three games out of six, and their outgoing coach Diego Aguirre believes today’s match against an in-form Al Ahli can put their campaign back on track.
Al Rayyan are fourth in the points standing after two losses and a draw, with Al Sadd, Al Ahli and Al Gharafa occupying the top three positions respectively.
Al Ahli, who will host Al Rayyan today at 7:45pm, are enjoying a phenomenal start recording five victories, with a 1-7 drubbing to Al Sadd their only setback in the new season.
Popular coach Aguirre, who announced to leave Al Rayyan last week and awaiting his replacement, said beating Al Ahli today is crucial for his team’s campaign.
“We will be in a good position if we win against Al Ahli but in case of a loss, things will become very difficult,” Aguirre said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“Al Ahli are ahead of us in the standings and if we want to compete for the title we must beat them (tomorrow),” said Al Rayyan coach.
Aguirre, however, admitted that Al Ahli are playing top football and his team will have to pull their socks up to claim full points.
“Al Ahli have surprised everybody with their performance and there will be no room for mistakes for us. Al Ahli have come up as a strong side and we must also show a strong performance against them,” he added.
Al Rayyan striker Yohan Boli said yesterday: “The team is ready for the game and the players are determined to win the three points against Al Ahli.”
Meanwhile, Al Ahli coach Nebojsa Jovovic hoped his team will continue the momentum against Al Rayyan, whom he rated as a ‘quality team’.
“We have strengths, including harmony and team spirit among the players. We have to play with all our capabilities in order to achieve a good result against Al Rayyan,” Jovovic told a press conference yesterday.
“We play as a unit in defence, offence and in the middle. And our defence starts with the attackers.
In general, we defend as one block and we know that Al Rayyan have high quality as they are not only good in attack, but they are good in all aspects,” he added.
Jovovic said Al Ahli’s current standing is a source of confidence for them, and team must maintain it.
“Our good position in the league (second spot) is an incentive for us to provide our best. I invite the fans of the team to come to the stadium and support the players."
"The atmosphere is great and we need their presence, which will delight the players and I promise them that they will perform well,” said Jovovic.
Al Ahli's goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues said yesterday: “We have to continue with our progress in the competition and appear well. We continue our work seriously and enjoy what our coach is doing and I am confident everyone will be ready.”
