Al Arabi take on Qatar SC, Umm Salal face Al Ahli

Having lost both their matches in the QNB Stars League this season, Al Arabi will be looking to bounce back when they host Qatar SC today. Al Arabi’s new head coach Kais Yaakoubi hoped his team can turn the tide and get first points on board. “After our defeat to Al Duhail, the team needs to start turning things around. We hope the game against Qatar SC will be our gate into winning ways,” said Yaakoubi
“We have a very healthy atmosphere in the changing room and the training ground. We are working hard and you will see the team’s real face in the next game,” said the Tunisian, when asked about the squad’s morale ahead of the game.  “We looked at Qatar SC last two games and the team played very well and we respect our opponent. I believe the both teams are at the same level and I hope we can take all three points,” he added.
After getting their first win in the last week against Al Markhiya, Qatar SC head coach Gabriel Calderon says it is important to build on from their results last week. “Every match is difficult. Al Arabi need to get their first win and we need to keep winning as well. It’s a difficult game for both teams,” the Argentine said.
About his team’s recent performance, Calderon said: “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 good results.”
Calderon spoke about his first impression of the league.“The league is very similar to every 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,” said Calderon.
In another match, Al Ahli will be aiming for their first win of the season, when they take on Umm Salal. The Brigadiers Spanish coach Joaquin Caparros said the team has be working hard in training. “We have one point from two games, all the players have been working hard in the training ground and we’ll be looking to get our first win against Umm Salal,” he said.
Ahli are hampered by injuries to number of players. “We have a number of injuries. I will be speaking to the team doctor and see which players we will be available ahead of the game against Umm Salal,” Caparros said.
Caparros revealed his ambition in the league and some of the club’s long term plans. “To be one of the top four, you need to have a full squad without injuries. We are working hard to build a team and are working with the management of the club to have a team that can compete at the level we want,” he said.
Meanwhile, Umm Salal will be looking to continue their impressive start to the season. The Orange Fortress head coach Mahmoud Jaber expected Ahli to be a tough opponent.
The Egyptian said: “We are ready for the game. We had a day break after the last game and resumed our training. The game is a difficult one and we hope we can get good results before the break.”
“The team is very ambitious, we had a good season last year and we are looking to improve on that and hopefully this year we can achieve a lot. The club is very stable. We feel like a family and the relationship between the management and the players is very healthy.” 
Jaber spoke about how close the league this year will be. “The League is very hard this year. All the teams are looking impressive. I have watched most of the games and everyone is performing at a similar level regardless of the results,” he said.
Fixtures
Today: Al Arabi vs Qatar SC at Al Arabi Stadium at 5:45pm; Al Ahli vs Umm Salal at Al Ahli
Stadium at 7:55pm