ROLE TO PLAY: Raul will be the player to watch out for in the crunch contest today.
By Anil John/Doha
Al Sadd are expected to bury five years of heartache today by winning the Qatar Stars League following a season which they started spectacularly only to stumble later and turn a virtual one-horse race into a nerve-racking dash to the finish.
Hussein Amotta’s side take on Al Kharatiyat today comfortable in the knowledge that they need only one point to win their 13th league crown -they won their 12th title under Jorge Fossati in 2007 - but also mindful of the fact that a shock loss will take the tournament down to the wire where they will have to take Lekhwiya head-on on April 18, the last day of the tournament.
The former Asian champions had led by 11 points at one stage but a series of unflattering results in January and February allowed Lekhwiya to catch up and entertain hopes of winning their third title in a row since joining the Qatari top-flight in the 2010-11 season.
Amotta, who lifted the league title as a player for Al Sadd, is aware of the pitfalls of getting into a celebratory mood with the possibility of another twist in the script clearly lurking around the bend.
“Until now we are not happy because we haven’t yet secured the title. We have two games to play so we will not celebrate yet,” said the Moroccan.
“All games have been difficult – even the ones we won by a big gap. This is an important and difficult game. We simply try to make the players focus.
“We have no reason to lose but it will still not be easy. That means we need to concentrate fully on this match.”
Amotta said his players will be treating Al Kharatiyat as a “normal” match.
“The players aren’t thinking about the Lekhwiya game. All we are doing is thinking about the Kharaitiyat match.
“We have the possibility to win the league, yes, but it’s just a normal match where we will look to take three points.
“If you want to win the championship then you have to manage pressure.”
Al Sadd midfielder Mohamed Kasola reckons winning the QSL would be the highlight of his career despite having experienced the joy of claiming the Asian Champions League title in 2011.
After a long, hard season the Qatar international can barely believe the fact that he has one hand on the trophy.
He said: “Everyone knows this game is very important for Al Sadd.
“This game could make the decision of where the league goes. We are going to win and try to be the champions of the season.
“Every player wants to win trophies as a player. If we can achieve this then it would be the happiest day of my career.
“I would be very proud to lift the league with Al Sadd. It would be my second trophy with Al Sadd but it would be the best.
“It’s very exciting and hopefully we can secure it.”
Al Kharatiyat, of course, are languishing in 10th place but one quality they don’t lack is confidence, having held Al Sadd to a draw when they met earlier in the QSL.
And their French coach Bernard Simondi admitted he was excited by the prospect of throwing a spanner in the works of their title celebrations.
“It seems this game has a special importance. We are now far away from the relegation and top four, yet we are important because this game is decisive,” said Simondi, who gave the situation an entirely new twist by claiming that Al Kharatiyat feel like a “referee”.
“If Sadd win this game they have won the title, which means this game is very special for us.
“In some way we are the referee of this competition. We hold the key on this particular day. There is an atmosphere surrounding this game, there will be more adrenaline for everyone.
“That’s why games like these are very important to play.”
Gerets wants Al Sadd defeat
Doha: Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets made no secret of the fact that he was desperate to see Al Sadd crashing to defeat against Al Kharatiyat today.
This is the only way Lekhwiya can hope to win the title when they take Al Sadd on the final day of the Qatar Stars League on April 18.
As of now Al Sadd lead Lekhwiya by five points with two matches remaining. A victory or a draw for Al Sadd today against Al Kharatiyat will mean Lekhwiya will finish in second place irrespective of the April 18 outcome.
“With two games to go we can only do our job before we play Al Sadd. Hopefully we continue our performances from the Champions League. We hope that Sadd will lose something so it will be a big final at the end,” said Gerets.
“As long as we can hope then we keep
dreaming. It’s all we can do because if Sadd don’t lose then it’s all over, they will have won the championship.
“If we can take it to the final day then it would be a superb way to finish the season bit we have to hope our sporting enemies make a mistake.”
TODAY’S FIXTURES
Al Arabi vs Al Rayyan
Lekhwiya vs Umm Salal
Al Khor vs Al Wakrah
El Jaish vs Qatar SC
Al Sailiya vs Al Gharafa
Al Sadd vs Al Kharatiyat
All matches begin at 6.15pm
BELOW:
TASK CUT OUT: Amotta