DOHA: New Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena is planning an aggressive tactical assault when his team takes on football giants Al Duhail in the Sheikh Jassim Cup final at Al Sadd Stadium today.
In today’s title clash, Arruabarrena wants his team to take the ‘upper hand and dominate proceedings from the kick off’ and push Al Duhail on the defensive.
“We try and force Al Duhail to play the way we want them to play,” Arruabarrena said yesterday on the eve of the final.
The Argentinian has done his home work on his opponents and is ready for the challenge in the season opener.
“As I was coaching for the last two years in the Middle East, I know most of the clubs and players from the region. I know Al Duhail have a new coach this season and they had excellent results last season,” said the Al Rayyan coach.
Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul, who is in his second sting as coach of a QNB Stars League (QSL) club, said his team enjoys an advantage over his opponents.
“Both teams have new coaching staff and I have a slight advantage over Al Rayyan coach because I coached a Qatari club, El Jaish, a few seasons back and I know the QSL clubs very well,” he said.
Maaloul, who coached Tunisia at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, said his team’s performance in the Sheikh Jassim Cup final will set the tone for the rest of the season.
“We know that this season opening match will helps us in our preparation as we aim to retain the QSL title,” Maaloul said yesterday.
The Tunisian tactician said he aims to carry forward the coaching legacy of Djamel Bemladi, the outgoing coach of Al Duhail.
“I will try to complete the journey of the previous coaching staff, which was very successful and helped Al Duhail to win three championships last season,” added Maaloul.
Last season, Al Duhail won the QSL title and went on to win the Qatar Cup and Amir Cup.
Al Duhail has also qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2018 AFC Champions League and will take on Iranian outfit Perspolis on August 28 and September 18 in the two-leg encounters.
Today’s game starts at 7:00pm.
