A combination photo of Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi and Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup
Defending champions Lekhwiya are 'well prepared' for their Emir Cup semi-final against Al Rayyan, team coach Djamel Belmadi said yesterday.
Two days ago, Group B leaders Lekhwiya crushed Saudi club Al Fateh 4-1 in their AFC Champions League clash.
"We played the AFC Champions League match on our home soil and that was also a preparation for this game," Belmadi said ahead of the clash tomorrow.
"Before that we played a great quarter-final against Al Khor so we are well prepared," he added during a pre-match press conference yesterday.
The Algerian said he avoids giving his team a huge pep talk ahead of big games like tomorrow's Emir Cup semi-final.
"Sometimes for such games, we don't have to talk a lot. The players know how important this tournament is and we won it last year. So the players know we created club history as we won it for the first time," Belmadi said.
Belmadi will be hoping his high-scoring forwards Nam Tae-hee and Youseef Msekni retain their form at Al Sadd Stadium tomorrow.
"They definitely want to be successful (again)," Belmadi said about his players.
"They know they have to pass the semi-final stage. The players want to do well and qualify for the final. Nothing changes for us in terms of preparation," he said.
"We are the champions and we are trying to defend our title. That's the only motivation we need," said Belmadi.
"The game will be tough and we know that very well. Al Rayyan is a big team. They lost the league title and are out of the AFC Champions League, so they certainly pin their hopes on doing well in the Emir Cup," Belmadi warned.
"We have to do our best and be at our best and everyone is at the top of the game and we'll see what happens in the end," he said.
Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup predicted a feisty contest between the arch-rivals despite his side coming off a 4-3 loss in their AFC Champions League clash against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia three days ago.
"It will be a big game. If we look at our two games in QSL, you will note that neither of the two teams dominated," Laudrup said.
"In the first game, we were winning 2-1 until the 90th minute. The other one was a 1-1 draw and it was a very tight game. So I predict this would be more of the same," the popular Dane added.
Laudrup, who will be hoping star strikers Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria deliver a memorable performance, said that their ace forward Sergio Garcia seemed a likely starter for the semi-final.
"We have to see the MRI scan again (as a precaution). We have to see how he is and if he is 100 percent fit. He played in the AFC Champions League game. He played for 15 minutes. We were lucky that he didn't break up again," Laudrup said.
"It was a big risk that we took and the player wanted to see if he is okay. Obviously we hope he is back for the semi-final. He should be okay," he added.
"About Lekhwiya, they had El Erabi injured, so they signed a Brazilian just for the rest of the season but he cannot play in this competition. But we know most of the times they play with a fantastic XI. (Key defender) Yassir is also back with (Spanish international) Chico Flores.
"They have a great midfield player, Karim Boudiaf, who usually plays a key role," Laudrup said. "But as long as my team creates a lot of opportunities to score, winning is the most important thing for us," he added.
