QSL: Focus on defenders as Al Duhail eye Al Ahli scalp

DOHA: Defending champions Al Duhail are looking to plug the gaps in the back-line as they take on Al Ahli in Round 7 of the QNB Stars League (QSL) today.

Al Duhail, the country’s most formidable football outfit, last week impressed with their 4-2 win over Al Gharafa but coach Nabil Maaloul yesterday sought an improvement from the defenders.

“We do not have any problem in attack. We have outstanding players in the midfield and attack. The problem is when we concede goals,” Maaloul said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.

“We will try to rectify the mistakes made by our players,” the Tunisian coach added.

“All goals that we conceded so far were results of our own mistakes,” he added.

“We will try not to concede any goal against Al Ahli. I think winning by two goals without conceding any is better than winning by five goals and conceding two,” Maaloul said.

Al Duhail coach said points were key to his side aiming for the QSL title.

“We respect our competitors and we do not fear any team. The most important thing is we have to win all games if we are to be in strong contention for the QNB Stars League title,” Maaloul said.

The Tunisian added Al Duhail had limited time to prep up for today’s clash.

“We had only a short time to prepare for this game, so we focused on the players’ recovery as they put in extra efforts in the previous game against Al Gharafa after the red card to Murad Naji,” he said.

“However, we will give off our best to achieve a positive result against Al Ahli,” he added.

Al Ahli coach Milan Macala yesterday said his side is expecting a tough match.

“Every game is tough. “Of course, Al Duhail are a strong side. They are at a disadvantage after exiting the AFC Champions League in the quarter-final stage. But they have depth in the squad” Macala said.

“Our preparations were difficult. We have to adopt our strategy from game to game. We had problems right from the beginning, mainly in the form of injuries to players,” Macala added.

“Striker Meshaal Abdulla and Barro Siddiqi cannot play this match. Meshaal is not well and Barro reported for training with high temperature on Tuesday.

“Even though Barro is a fast player, he has not played a match fully. I hope he regains his fitness soon.

“The way they beat Al Gharafa playing with 10 men (after Murad Naji saw the red card) was amazing. It will be very hard, but we hope we get full points,” Macala said.

In another match, points leaders Al Sadd take on Qatar SC on their home soil.

Jesualdo Ferreira’s Al Sadd team is fresh from a 5-0 rout of arch-rivals Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico last week.

Yesterday, Al Sadd welcomed first-choice goalkeeper Saad Al Dosari back in training after a short absence.

Qatar SC, playing under caretaker coach Yousef Al Noobi, will be looking to reverse the losing trend.

In other games this week, Al Gharafa play Al Kharaitiyat, Umm Salal take on Al Khor, Al Rayyan face Al Shahaniya and Al Arabi host Al Sailiya.