Players of Al Duhail celebrate a goal against Al Kharaitiyat in their QNB Stars League match in Doha in this file photo.
DOHA: Qatar champions Al Duhail will be playing for a win against feisty Iranian hosts Zobahan when the two side clash in a Group B clash in the AFC Champions League tomorrow.
Unbeaten in four matches, Al Duhail players are well rested following a break of more than 10 days due to international friendlies at the end of March.
“We are looking for a positive result,” Al Duhail’s Brazilian defender Lucas Mendes said ahead of his team’s fifth AFC Champions League match to be played at Foolad Shahr Stadium in Isfahan, Iran.
“After we won the QNB Stars League (QSL) title, we turned our attention to the AFC Champions League. We still have two games to go and we are fully focused,” he added.
Al Duhail have been well served by star striker Youssef El Arabi who has found the net six times in four matches to lead the scorers’ sheet for this season so far.
“I am happy to say that my team mates are ready for this match. We will play to get positive results so that we keep our slate clean. This is an important game and our motivation is to remain unbeaten this phase. We have never done this before,” Mendes said.
“We’ve trained well with a lot of energy. The atmosphere in the dressing rooms is great. This will help us play the way we want to,” Mendes said.
Defender Murad Nagy said winning the QSL title has been driving force in Al Duhail doing well in the AFC Champions League.
“The team proved its strength and depth by winning the QSL title. We thank God for that glory,” Nagy said yesterday.
“We feel we have important games to play. The players are ready, I can tell you that much. We have already qualified but we are playing for wins,” Nagy added.
“Like Lucas said, we want to remain unbeaten and we will put in greater amounts of effort to get a positive result,” he said.
“I am hopeful we can deliver a special performance as we are playing an away game,” Nagy said.
“I wish the best for other Qatar sides - Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa - as they are also playing this week,” he added.
Al Duhail, coached by Djamel Belmadi, concluded their preparation for the Iran trip, club said yesterday.
A club official said star striker Youssef Msakeni is back in training with the side following a break due to a knee injury.
