Al Rayyan will be aiming to get within one point of leaders Al Duhail when they take on Umm Salal in what could be a challenging QNB Stars League match today.
Diego Aguirre’s side are second in the standings with 25 points, four behind leaders Al Duhail, and three points for them today would give them a morale boost in their quest for the title.
“We hope to be ready to bring out our best in the second leg of the tournament. Al Rayyan always play to win, so it is important that the team starts the second leg with a victory,” Aguirre said at his pre-match press conference.
“I still remember the difficult game we played with Umm Salal in the first leg, which ended in a 2-2 draw. So, I think this match will also be difficult.
“I know that Al Duhail have recruited Croatian Mario Mandzukic. I was surprised. It is a great deal for Al Duhail because he is a player with huge capabilities and will be useful to the team,” he added.
Aguirre said he was still working on getting a new professional player for the team
“As far as we are concerned in Al Rayyan, we have sought a new professional player. We are still working on this and we expect him to be a value addition to the team. Every coach hopes that all his players are good.
Umm Salal are currently at the bottom of the 12-team league with a paltry five points from 11 matches, but Aguirre was of the opinion that it would be a mistake to take them lightly.
“It is wrong to think that teams at the bottom of the table will throw away points. They will fight for positive results to improve their position, so I warn the players not to be complacent.
“We, in Al Rayyan, respect all opponents. We know that many difficult matches await us in the second leg and we have to be at the top of our readiness,” said Aguirre.
Umm Salal coach Aziz Ben Askar said the fact that his team have got a few new players would do wonders.
“This is the first confrontation for us in the second leg of the tournament and we did a lot of work. We brought in some players. I do not need time, but the team needs time to correct some mistakes and get set,” he said.
“We are expecting a lot from our new players. Whoever left can play in any other team. I saw that it was very important to change. The situation demands that we must work harder.
“We are in the process of building up a team, so the break can serve us well in our bid to find solutions. I do not put responsibility on one party and I am confident that we will overcome the tough situation,” said Ben Askar.
In another match today, Al Shahania will clash with Al Gharafa hoping for their first win of the season.
“We are starting a new phase, against Al Gharafa in the first round of second-leg matches. They are undoubtedly a good team. We hope to record our first victory. Our morale is high after the drawn match against Al Khor in the last round and also over the good performance that our team put up.
“Al Gharafa, despite their loss to Al Sadd in the last round, are always a strong team. They will miss some players, but they have others to replace the absentees.
“We know that Al Shahania are a lesser side compared to Al Gharafa, but we will play to win and take three points. We went through difficult periods, but we are a team trying to fight. We will play with enthusiasm. We can win against Al Gharafa. If that happens, we may move up in the table.”
Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic said Al Shahania are a difficult team to beat despite their 11th position in the standings.
“We might face problems because Al Shahania have always been an organised team and give a good fight to their competitors. We should be at our very best if we are to bag three points.
“Absences are normal in football. Our team will miss a number of players who are doing duty for the Qatar Olympic team. Our rivals also have absences. We are now trying to work with the existing players, who number 14 in addition to Under-23 players.”
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