Doha, January 10 (QNA) – Al Sadd coach Juan Manuel Lillo ‘Juanma’ expressed his confidence to achieve a satisfactory result in tomorrow’s match against Al Rayyan in the Qatari football Clasico hosted by Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Week 9 of the QNB Stars League for the 2022 – 2023 season.

Juan Manuel said: “Looking at the 2022 FIFA World Cup from our point of view we were more enthusiastic and passionate because we had a large number of players in the tournament.

“Regarding training, we had to complete the team with young players for more than a month and a half and, despite that I think it was good.

He continued: “We will face a good competitor with good players, it will be a very difficult match and we need to see what the situation of our team will be with the absence of many players who are still with the national team. At the same time, some have returned but at different times, so we have to see how the situation is.

“Now we miss another large group of players who are with the national team in the Gulf Cup. The team must be stronger with the return of some players and we will strive to be at our best,” said Juanma.

Al Rayyan coach Nicolas Cordova said: “After winning, the work will be different and the most important thing is that we know that we will face a very strong competitor which considered one of the strongest teams in the league, and we must be in the best readiness to provide the best performance. We must know that the team is suffering especially on the front of professional players.

“The winter transfer period is an opportunity to strengthen the team. We have a shortage of foreign professional players, especially in the offensive line, and we must include players. We also have a shortage at the level of local players and we need three players to strengthen the defence.

“We have an absence of players who are with Qatar’s national team in the Gulf Cup, four players in the player development project in Europe and some others in the youth team who are very important to us. We miss a large number of players, and the lack of players was one of the reasons for the teams low position in the table and it is difficult to compete in their absence.

“Winning (over Al Sailiya) is a great incentive to prepare for the match in a better way. With accuracy and high quality in training and match, we hope that we will be ready for this match and win,” said Cordova.

Al Sadd ranks ninth in the league standings with 7 points, while Al Rayyan comes in 11th place with four points. (QNA)

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