We have the desire to maintain our unbeaten streak throughout this season’s league competition and we are ready to face Al Ahli: Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi
Doha: The round 15 of the QNB Stars League (QSL) will be a double challenge for top placed teams as they will be looking to prep up for their opening AFC Champions League games besides maintaining their domination in the home contest.
Al Duhail (36) points, Al Sadd (34 points) and Al Rayyan (32 points) are the top three QSL teams who will be playing the AFC Champions League games later this month along with Al Gharafa.
Al Duhail will take on Al Ahli tomorrow in QSL round 15, with coach Djamel Belmadi saying his team will play to maintain their domination, with an eye on the AFC Champions League.
“We have the desire to maintain our unbeaten streak throughout this season’s league competition and we are ready to face Al Ahli,” Belmadi said ahead of the match.
“We have prepared the team with yet another victory in mind. The battle for the title at the top does not bother us. In a way, some pressure is good for us because all teams that wish to win the championship play under pressure. “In the last round, we wanted to win over Al Rayyan, but we had an opponent who played very well. The draw was good for us, but our game against Al Ahli will not be like our first-phase match, which we won by a 6-1 margin. I would be happy if we just win also.
“The AFC Champions League will start soon, but we are not the only side playing in it. I congratulate Al Gharafa for making it to the group stage, getting the better of Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
“Striker Almoez Ali has returned after doing duty for Qatar at the Asian Under-23 Championship in China. He is a good player who has made his presence felt with his perseverance and ambitions despite being young,” said Belmadi.
Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup whose team will face Al Markhiya was happy on return of key players ahead of crucial games.
“It is good that a few players, such as Hossam Kamal, Ahmed Yasser and Abdulrahman Al Harasi have joined us. They will certainly strengthen our squad especially since we will have to soon play every three or four days as AFC Champions League matches are also coming up.
“We will also be travelling and we need to rotate the players. The same is the case with Al Duhail, Al Sadd and Al Gharafa. I take this opportunity to congratulate Al Gharafa on making it to the AFC Champions League. It is good for Qatar to have four teams this year in the Asian competition compared to two last time,” said Laudrup.
However, the Danish coach said the immediate focus of his team was tomorrow’s match against Al Markhiya.
“We have to take this game very seriously as Al Markhiya are fighting for their life. They will do everything because they want to stay in the league. I expect them to fight with all the resources they have. We all know what they are capable of doing. They even held Al Sadd goalless a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
Meanwhile, Al Arabi coach Luka Bonacic termed his team’s clash against Umm Salal this week tough.
“All games are more difficult at this stage. Umm Salal can pose a serious threat to any side in the QNB Stars League. They are physically and tactically a strong team and are breathing down Al Sailiya’s neck for the fourth position.”
“We are prepared for this match in a better way than we could earlier in the league campaign. We have changed some players and some new players have come in,” he said.
“The changes had reflected on our results and performance in the second phase. We drew two matches and lost to Al Duhail only by a one-goal margin. And our display against them, the league leaders, was commendable.
“Our main problem is the players’ mentality. That should change though I know it is not easy to change. In many games which we either drew or lost, we scored first. So that means there is nothing wrong with the players’ physique or technique. They must stay fully focused throughout the match, especially in the last 20 or 25 minutes.”
