DOHA: Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul (pictured right) yesterday said team will give their best to pick up points against Al Sailiyah today when the two teams clash in a rescheduled QNB Stars League match.
The match, that was to be played in Week 5, had to be rescheduled due to the clash of dates as Al Duhail had AFC Champions League commitment then.
“The game is important as always and our goal is to collect full points. We are at the top of the table and it is an achievement for the great efforts made by our players so far this season,” Maaloul said yesterday.
Despite the injuries to some of our players, we have been doing well. I have to mention the contribution of young players who have shown good levels of excellence and proved their worth for the team.
“We are facing a difficult game against Al Sailiya. They are a side that has proved its worth and displayed excellence in the games even though they suffered some setbacks.
“We play all games with great concentration and the team has achieved some excellent results. Since the start of the league, we have dropped only two points from the draw and we always try to play to win.
“With the target of retaining the league title, we must play all games with great determination, discipline and team spirit,” said Maaloul.
Meanwhile Al Sailiya player Mustafa Mohamed said: “The technical staff, led by coach Sami Trabelsi, focused on the players’ psychological aspects ahead of the meeting with Al Duhail, given that it is an important fixture. We want to get back to winning ways.
“Al Duhail have a good group of players, but we are able to deal with them. We are looking to return to our true level and achieve good results. And also to put behind the setbacks we suffered in the last two rounds.
“The game is more difficult because it is against the table toppers. But football is about what happens on the pitch. Al Sailiya are capable of winning,” said Mustafa.
Also yesterday Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi spoke ahead of their QNB Stars League match against Al Duhail, to be played today.
“The clash with Al Duhail will be difficult. We have made the preparations to overcome a difficult stage, especially since our recent results are not good.
“We put up below-par performances in the last two games, against Al Shahania and Al Rayyan, and lost both of them. Karim Al Ali pulled out injured halfway through the first game and that had a major impact on the performance of the team.
“I hope we will make a strong comeback against Al Duhail and the result will be positive for us.
“We all saw what happened in the match between Al Sadd and Al Ahli. The best team in the league this season (Al Sadd) lost by a 1-4 margin! So, we can also make up for the two successive defeats and start getting good results again.
“We seek every point and our goal is to stay in the top four, and that requires greater efforts,” said Trabelsi.
