Doha: Amir Osim’s side Al Kharitiyat are hovering above the relegation zone and are badly in need of a big win as action of round 25 of the Qatar Stars League (QSL) kicks-off at 6.15pm today.
Al Kharitiyat will play against Al Wakrah at the Al Khor stadium and they could get in the dreaded drop zone if results do not go their way.
Yahia Kebe will be a key man for the Thunders, especially after his vital 88th minute equalizer against Al Khor last time out.
Kharaitiyat are only one-point clear of the drop zone as they are on twenty-four points from as as many games. This leaves them in twelfth place in the table with only two games left to play.
Amar Osim, the head coach of Al Kharaitiyat, is keen on changing fortunes of his side, starting against Al Wakrah.
“If we win one game Qatar SC Has to win two games its simple mathematics. So we have to win the next game against Al Wakrah,” Noted the Bosnian technician at his pre-match press conference.
Speaking on his opponents Al Wakrah, Osim said, “You always have motivation to win no matter the situation. They will want to move up the table. I don’t know about the motivation of the (Al Wakrah) players but I hope they are relaxed as it will be better for us.”
Even though The Thunders are in a relegation dog-fight at the moment their coach believes that they should not lose sight of the way they play. “We shouldn’t change the way we play because of our situation. If we play without strategy, without organization we will be even weaker. So we need to keep organization, composure and we need to take some risks.”
Al Wakrah have all but secured their place in the QSL for next season with a vital 2-0 win against Lekhwiya last week. The Blue Waves have twenty-nine points which keep them at eleventh in the table one place above their opponents.
Mauricio Larriera, the head coach of Al Wakrah, is hoping to make the most of the remaining two games in the QSL season, “We will play against two teams who are in the danger area Al Kharaitiyat and Qatar SC. The game against Kharaitiyat will be complicated and difficult. We have to be alert and we will be forced to show good motivation and attitude because both team are about to fall and we need to be serious,” added the Uruguayan.
Meanwhile Qatar SC will take on Al Gharafa at the same time. Three points are a must for the Kings, and time is running out for them if they are to beat the drop to the Qatar Gas League.
The game will be played at the Al Ahli Stadium.
Al Gharafa stunned champions Al Rayyan last week with a impressive 2-1 win. This result means that the Cheetahs are sixth in the table with thirty-four points.
Pedro Caixinha, head coach of Al Gharafa is not taking the final two games lightly; “This is going to be our second final. We need to play the last two games like they are cup finals and we need to prepare for these games like they are finals.”
He also spoke about the upcoming Emir Cup saying, “We will go to these games as preparation for the Emir cup. we don’t care much about the opponent even knowing their situation. We will play our game and try our best to win.”
Caixinha has made a positive impact on the Gharafa team since he joined mid-season, “I worked with the team for a few months and I am very pleased with the progress they have made. We are trying to create an identity of the club. I can’t prepare for a game without thinking of winning. Our last game was against the champions and the next is against the relegation team for us this is of no concern as we always aim to win,” added the forty-five-year-old.
Qatar SC currently sit in the QSL drop zone with twenty-three points from twenty-four games. However, a win against Gharafa could make a big difference in their quest to beat the drop.
Sebastiao Lazaroni, the head coach of Qatar SC had this to say about the task ahead, “Our situation now is to fight, to prepare ourselves and organize ourselves. We know that Al Gharafa is a strong team and they had a good win against Al Rayyan. We also stood face to face with El Jaish and had a good match.” “For us each game is the most important and we are fighting to survive and stay in the first division,” added the Brazilian tactician ahead of the big game.
At the Al Arabi stadium, Al Khor will face Al Sailiya. Al Khor can confirm their status in the QSL for another season if they manage to defeat Al Sailiya.
After obtaining a point against Khraitiyat in their last game the Knights have secured there spot in next season’s QSL.
Jean Fernandez, head coach of Al Khor, is hoping for a flourish from his side, “We are guaranteed to stay in the QSL after our last result against Khraitiyat. We have two games left, one against Sailiya and one against Gharafa and in these two games we will try to improve our position in the table.”
Al Sailiya sits in eighth position in the QSL table with thirty-two points after a close 3-2 defeat to Al Sadd in their last outing.
The Peregrines will fight to get back to winning ways in their match against Al Khor. Sami Trabelsi, head coach of Al Sailiya, believes that both teams will play without much pressure, “This is the penultimate match and both sides are far from the danger zone. The game has no danger for both teams. Both teams have no pressure but we have to take this game as preparation for the Emir Cup.”
Today’s QSL action conclude when already relegated Al Mesaimeer take on seventh place Al Arabi at the Al Arabi Stadium at 8.30pm. Gianfranco Zola’s side will be looking to get on a good run of form ahead of the domestic competitions. Captain Paulinho should be back in contention for the Dream Team, after sitting out the round 24 defeat to Umm Salal with a knock.
The Torches will aim to improve their form ahead of the Emir Cup. Al Mesaimeer’s assistant coach Dragan Tadic had this to say about the upcoming game,”Al Arabi are a strong team.”
“They didn’t have last two results in their favor but they have strong players like Paulinho.”
Al Arabi are seventh in the table after back to back defeats.
They have thirty-four points from twenty-four games and will aim for the three points against their struggling opponents.
Gianfranco Zola, the head coach of Al Arabi, believes that Mesaimeer is no easy team to play against, “Mesaimeer is a well-organized and disciplined team, and they make it difficult for every team.”
“The first goal is the key. If you score the first goal against them it’s an advantage for you as it makes them more open as they move forward.”
