Al Arabi, one of the most popular QNB Stars League outfits in the country, haven’t had the best of the start to the new football season and the coach of the ‘Dream Team’ said he wants a quick return to winnings ways.
Al Arabi, with feared striker Khalfan Ibrahim in their ranks for the 2017-18 season, lost to Al Sailiyah in round one and then crashed to a 2-0 loss against Al Duhail last week.
Head coach Kais Yaakoubi said the turnaround in fortunes is just one good performance away but a positive result is what he wants from his side.
“After our second defeat against Al Duhail last week, the team (now) needs to start turning things around. We hope the game against Qatar SC will be our gate to winning ways,” Yaakoubi said yesterday as the team prepared to take on Qatar SC today.
“We have a very healthy atmosphere in the changing room and the training ground. We are working hard and you will see the teams real face in the next game,” the Tunisian said when asked about the teams spirit ahead of the game.
The Al Arabi coach ended the press conference by saying that he is hoping his team could pick up all three points on their home soil.
“We looked at Qatar SC last two games and the team played very well and we respect our opponent. But I believe both the teams are at the same level and I hope we can take all three points,” Yaakoubi said.
Qatar SC’s head coach Gabriel Calderon said QNB Stars League was a format in which every team needed to safeguard its interests with powerful performances.
“Every match is a final, this game is difficult. Al Arabi needs to get their first win and we need to keep winning as well. Its a difficult game for both teams,” Calderon said at a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“It is importance to build on from our result last week and we will be trying to get the win against Al Arabi,” he warned. Last week Qatar SC beat Al Markhiya 1-0 to pick up their first three-pointer this season.
“In football everything is possible. We always look to improve and we had a bit of luck in the last game and hope we can improve and get more satisfying results,” the Kings coach said.
“Yes, we can replicate our performance from last week in this game,” he added.
The Argentine said: “The league is very similar to every football league in the world. You have two or three good teams because of the high profile players they have. However, the rest of the teams are at the same level.”
In another game today, winless Al Ahli face unbeaten Umm Salal at Hamd Bin Khalifa Stadium. The game kicks off at 7.55pm.
