We are battling on two fronts - in the QNB Stars League and the AFC Champions League, therefore, our task will be especially difficult. But we will go for our best effort against Persepolis: Ferreira
DOHA: Unbeaten in five successive QNB Stars League matches, former Asian champions Al Sadd will be looking to stretch their winning form on home soil today when they take on Iranian giants Persepolis in their AFC Champions League clash.
In their opening AFC Champions League Group C clash two weeks ago, 2011 Asian title winners Al Sadd beat UAE’s Al Wasl 2-1 with the help of a double by feared striker Baghdad Bounedjah in the away game.
Since January 20, title-chasing Al Sadd have gone unbeaten in five league matches that includes a 5-1 win over Al Arabi three days ago.
Despite the roaring form of his strikers, Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira struck a cautious note ahead of today’s clash at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
“We are battling on two fronts - in the QNB Stars League and the AFC Champions League, therefore, our task will be especially difficult,” Ferreira said ahead of the Persepolis clash today.
“But we will go for our best effort against Persepolis,” the seasoned coach added.
“We have to find solutions in light of the fatigue of my players and the pressure of (so many) matches. Our goal at Al Sadd is to win the league and go as far as possible in the AFC Champions League. We must accept that there will be injuries (to players). We will rotate the players so we are successful in all our campaigns,” the Portuguese said.
Al Sadd’s central defender Pedro Miguel yesterday said: “We will play as one unit like we have done in the league. We must be strong in our defense and in our attack. We will do our best.”
Miguel added: “It will be a tough game against a team that includes good players. We are 100 percent ready.”
Ferreira added during the pre-match press conference: “We will face a distinguished team and one of the strongest Iranian teams. It will be difficult even when the match is played at our home. Al Sadd do not know the outcome but our goal (is) to win and get the points we seek.”
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup said yesterday that team captain and influential striker Rodrigo Tabata will miss the Al Ain encounter but the Qatar giants have arrived in the UAE to ‘pick up points’.
“The game will be difficult and in front of a strong opponent but we will enter this game seeking a win and to maintain our chances of being at the top of Group D,” Laudrup said during a press conference in Al Ain yesterday.
“It’s a bad thing for the captain to miss this important game, but I’m sure the replacement will carry all the roles Tabata plays,” the coach said. “I trust the team to make a big impression and achieve the team’s goal of picking up three points needed by our side,” the popular Dane added.
“During our match against Estaghlal, my team gave their best and we were ahead and had we not lost Tabata in the last minutes, we could have picked up points,” Laudrup said.
Laudrup said Al Ain - who were held to a goalless draw last week - could not be taken lightly since they were not at full strength in the previous clash.
“Al Ain has not lost in 16 games and they are the leader of the UAE league. We have a big team and we came here to score points,” Laudrup said.
Al Rayyan’s Moroccan midfielder Mohsen Moutaouli said yesterday: “The Al Rayyan camp is buzzing with excitement. The players are very confident now that we are in the UAE. We aim to produce a big performance and get the win.”
The 31-year-old added: “Al Rayyan is a big club and we have come to collect three points. We played a great game last week and we were close to winning. We have not come just to play a match. We want to make our fans happy as we go for our target from this match.”
