Al Markhiya coach Anthony Hudson spoke to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 2 match against Al Gharafa.

“We have prepared well for this match without looking at the result of the opposing team in the first round and we know that Al Gharafa are a very strong team. They have a coach with great experience and some talented players, and I think it will be a good match. We are ready for it, and we must always be ahead of the other side.

“The loss, of course, has a negative effect, but the technical staff are proud of the players’ performance against a strong team like Al Rayyan, although the team is still in the process of being formed with technical staff and new players. It is still early to judge at physical, tactical and technical levels, and we have a lot of work to do in this regard,” said Hudson.

Al Markhiya player Muayad Hassan said, “All players have the desire to compensate for the loss in the first round and return from the match against Al Gharafa with three points.

“All players are optimistic about making a comeback in the next rounds of the league although the team is still in the stage of formation. There are many players who have recently joined the team, including those who are having their first experience in the Qatar league.”