Doha: Will Lekhwiya let the occasion get the better of them again or will the Qatar Stars League leaders seal the title today when they take on Al Ahli at home? That is the question on everybody’s minds.
With a key victory against Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in the AFC Champions League lifting their morale after a 3-3 draw with minnows Al Shahaniya delayed their QSL title party last week, Michael Laudrup’s boys will be in no mood for any further concessions when they meet sixth-placed Al Ahli tonight.
However, Lekhwiya, who are looking for their fourth title in five years, will not have it easy because Al Ahli have proven they are no pushovers.
“We played them back in December and it was a very tight game. We need to win this one to win the title, so it is a highly important game and the players know this. Al Ahli will also be motivated as they try to finish higher in the league standings,” Lekhwiya’s head coach Michael Laudrup said on Friday.
“Well it’s true we have some important players out because of suspensions, but the payers who will come in know that if we win then we will take the league. So the motivation is already there, I just hope the replacements can do as good a job as the players who they replace,” the Dane added.
Laudrup also hinted that his players were not entirely happy with the refereeing in their game against Al Shahaniya.
“Regarding the previous game, I don’t think the players lost focus. I can’t really talk about that game because then I have to speak about the referee’s performance and I don’t want to be punished,” he said.
Al Ahli Zlatko Kranjcar said his team were targeting the fifth spot and wouldn’t lay down for Lekhwiya.
“Even though we are approaching the end of the season, we have motivation, Lekhwiya will be a tough game but we are trying to get into the fifth position,” he said.
“In the last game, Lekhwiya came undone, the pressure got to them and we also hope to utilise this pressure. They are at the end of a long season and they didn’t have a great game, it is not easy to play a team fighting for its survival. So I think in a way the game tomorrow will be a repeat as Lekwhiya need to win and we have to try and stop them,” Kranjcar added.
One man who will be rooting for Al Ahli will be Al Sadd coach Hussien Ammouta. “Of course we still have a small chance to win the title but we have a tough game as we will play against El Jaish. We hope that Ahli do us a favour but really it is Lekhwiya’s to lose,” Ammouta said.
“I hope that Lekhwiya struggle in their clash against Ahli. In the last game against Shahaniya, the occasion got the better of them. To win the league they need to be psychologically ready.”
Besides hoping for Lekhwiya to slip up, Al Sadd must also make sure that they defeat third-placed El Jaish today to have any chance of winning the title. But that is easier said than done.
THE PENINSULA
