Al Sadd's Romain Saiss (left) and Mohammed Waab in action during a training session.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd will look to fire on all cylinders against Libya's Al Ahli Tripoli when the two teams meet in a decisive Group B encounter at the King Salman Club Cup in Abha, Saudi Arabia, today.
A victory will secure Al Sadd, the leaders in their group, a spot in the quarter-finals in the 16-team tournament. On the other hand, a loss for the Libyan side will mean they will be eliminated.
Emanuel Infante, Al Sadd’s assistant coach, yesterday noted that the team will make a unique strategy to ensure their peak performance at today's match which kicks off at 4:00pm at the Damac Stadium.
During a pre-match press conference, Infante stated, “As we prepare for this match, we are aware that we are facing a different opponent. We are formulating a unique strategy to rectify our previous errors and thoroughly analyze our opponents to ensure our peak performance.”
Al Sadd’s assistant coach Emanuel Infante speaks during a press conference, yesterday.
“We approach this match with full force, aiming to secure a victory. Relying on chance is not our way. We are continuously evolving from one match to another, and we hope to put up our best performance against Ahli Tripoli to achieve victory.”
Infante underlined the significance of the tournament, where all teams are on equal footing, and success depends on performance. He explained, “At this stage, it’s too early to speak of winning the championship. Our sole focus is on each individual match, and our primary goal is to secure a place in the quarter-finals.”
He also stressed the need for unwavering focus and dedication, stating, “With all four teams having a fair chance at qualification, we remain vigilant and committed. Ahli Tripoli’s remarkable fitness and skilled players motivate us to deliver nothing less than our best to secure victory.”
Al Sadd's new recruit Romain Saiss predicted a tough match against Al Ahli Tripoli.
“Another challenging match awaits us, and victory is crucial for us. Ahli Tripoli also has a chance to qualify. While one point may be enough for us to advance, we must not rely on this assumption. Our goal is to win and top the group,” the Moroccan defender who joined the Qatar football giants few days ago, said.
“I’m delighted to play the initial minutes with Al Sadd and I’m happy with the victory against Al Hilal. It’s true that my fitness is not at its peak, but I work daily to be prepared and give my best to assist the team in reaching the furthest stage in the tournament.”
Regarding his expectations for Al Sadd’s qualification to the quarter-finals from Group B, the Al Sadd player said, “I hope both Al Sadd and Wydad qualify for the quarter-finals.”
Saïss concluded his remarks, “Overall, Moroccan football is in a better state after the recent results, and I’m proud of the Moroccan teams, Wydad and Raja, and their presence in this tournament. I wish them success.”
Elsewhere, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia will be up against Morocco’s Wydad in a simultaneous kick-off at the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in the same group today.
