By Sports Reporter/Doha
Wagnar Raynar, the El Jaish forward gave his thoughts on the upcoming Qatar Cup Final and their opponents Lekhwiya. The Brazilian front man has scored 7 goals and assisted on 9 occasions for the Army side. Raynar spoke to QSL Online about the upcoming Cup Final.
Obviously this season Lekhwiya pipped you to the post this season but does the Qatar Cup give El Jaish a second chance to prove that you are just as good as they are?
We always try our best to be first but unfortunately this season we couldn’t do that. Lekhwiya finished as champions of the Qatar Stars League. Congratulations to them for this achievement but in this final we will give 100% to try to win this new Cup. They are a good team with a lot of their players able to score, they are organised and disciplined. Recently they had dipped in form but in this competition we saw how good they really are. They scored two goals in two minutes against a very good Al Sailiya side.
What is the atmosphere like as lead you up to the big day?
We are a lot of days at the hotel now trying to concentrate; I hope we are ready to do well. The players are excited but itching to get out on the pitch and do the job.
How have the team been preparing at this moment ahead of the Qatar Cup Final, is it mainly talking tactics or physical preparation?
Well actually this season we have played a lot matches every three or four days so we are physically fit enough, we are not working out in the gym or doing other types of physical training. But for sure in terms of tactical preparation and psychological aspects, we are doing that. As it is the end of the season we all know each other’s strengths and weakness, we are concentrating on how to raise ourselves to this difficult game ahead.
Do you prepare differently for a Cup final compared to a regular Qatar Stars League fixture?
No not really, the most important factor is to be prepared psychologically, everybody is physically ready because we have almost played a whole season.
El Jaish is doing very well in the AFC Champions League, how difficult is it to manage all the various competitions you are in as a player and as a team?
Yeah for sure it is not so easy our team has a lot quality but at the same time in the Champions League, all the teams have good quality too so it is not easy. And with some players getting injured towards the end of the season things can be tough at times but thank god that we have a good group and we can manage it well. As a player I have not scored as much as I would have liked but I have assisted in a lot of goals this season. The main thing to being able to compete in a lot of different tournaments is to pace yourself and be patient.
How does it feel to be one of the first teams in Qatar Cup Final?
This an opportunity to make history and be the first team who can say that we won the new Qatar Cup. In my opinion I am very happy about this chance and to be completely happy we have to win the final because if we lose the final then it will all have been for nothing. So we prepared ourselves to do good work in the final, let’s hope the match goes our way.
Regarding your own contribution to the team you have played 22 games out of 26, how do you feel you have done this season?
Now is the end of the season, I will keep myself motivated and focused and give my best like always. As an attacking player I hope to contribute more next season but hopefully I am chosen to help the team win in this difficult match against Lekhwiya.
El Jaish striker Wagnar Raynar
