Al Arabi coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and player Pierre-Michel Lassoga spoke to the media ahead of their 2019-20 QNB Stars League Week 8 match against Al Rayyan.

“Al Rayyan are one of the best clubs and we’re playing against a team having outstanding players, such as Yacine Brahimi, Abdulaziz Hatem, Rodrigo Tabata and others.

“We know how strong they’re and we’ve a plan to contain their key players. There were only four days between this game and our previous match against Al Gharafa, so players needed to recover well to be ready.

“I may change our tactics, but I’m counting on the high calibre of our players. We must close spaces to Al Rayyan, so that their players, who’ve speed and ability to keep the ball, don’t exploit them.

“I hope our fans will continue to support us whatever happens on the field. We prepare the team for every game and I promise that players will fight to get a positive result,” said Hallgrimsson.

Al Arabi player Pierre-Michel Lassoga said, “I think, as the coach said, we’re preparing for a difficult game against a strong team. For me, as a forward, it’ll be more difficult because I’ve to defend with my team-mates, especially since we were unable to score against Al Gharafa although we created many opportunities.

“I hope that we’ll find solutions to score goals against Al Rayyan. Our striker Hamdi Harbaoui is very dangerous inside the penalty area. No player can be happy after losing a game, it hurts to suffer defeat. But players overcome it immediately and start preparing for the next game. We’re perparing for Al Rayyan game with high spirit.”