Umm Salal coach Talal El Karkouri spoke to the media ahead of their 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League Week 15 match against Al Wakrah.

“It is an important match, I hope we will be fully focused and ready, especially since Al Wakrah are one of the strong teams that includes high-level players and plays good football.

“We have to strive and do our best to overtake the opponent during the match. Yes, it is a league match, but we make efforts to win full points and we do not compare the match of the 15th round with the match of the first leg.

“Umm Salal are fully aware of the situation that we are in, and from here all the players of the team are aware of this. They know that Al Wakrah are a strong team, regardless of what happened to them in the past rounds.

“Umm Salal prepared for the game well because this is our goal and every player takes into account the importance and strength of the match. The victory gives the team a great impetus to overcome the difficult situation,” said Talal.

Umm Salal defender Ismail Ibrahim said, “The Al Wakrah match is important to us and we strive to achieve victory in order to move away from the danger zone because the presence of Umm Salal in this position is not as per the capabilities of the team.

“The Al Wakrah match is very important, like all league matches, and we expect it to be strong due to the strength of the opponent, whom we respect very much, and we hope to be ready and do our best for the three points.

“The match for us as players represents three points like any game and we must present a good level to achieve victory and move away from the last position. We are able to do that and improve our position.”