Al Wakrah coach Marquez Lopez spoke to the media ahead of their 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League Week 12 match against Al Arabi.

“Despite the difficulty of the match and all the circumstances that we face, we will play to win and I have great confidence in all players.

“Al Arabi are a strong team and offer very good levels this season, while we are facing a really difficult situation because we have seven players infected with the coronavirus. I do not know how many players will recover for the Al Arabi match, but I am confident in other players. I think Al Wakrah we will make 11 players who are ready in any league game start this game as well. There are no excuses, it is a very important game for us.

“The mentality of the coach, the staff and the players is to always look up. We have to be in better positions,” said Marquez.

Al Wakrah player Mohammed Emad Ayyash said, “It will be difficult for both teams due to the great desire to collect the points.

“Al Arabi are a strong team with distinguished players and although our team suffers from several important absences, this will not prevent us from making the utmost possible efforts in the hope of achieving victory.

“We feel satisfied with our performance over the past period, especially since we are achieving a large part of what is required, and we will continue to follow the same approach in the second leg.

“At a personal level, I am satisfied with my performance with the team, and I am to give everything I have for Al Wakrah. God willing, we can achieve something important and be among the top four this season.”