Al Duhail coach Christophe Galtier spoke to the media ahead of their 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League Week 15 match against Al Wakrah.

“The players trained intensively this week and I reviewed the match recordings in order to determine the reasons for the difference in performance between the first and second halves. In the last match in particular, I was not satisfied with the performance as we lost many balls and played many long balls and did not perform as required. Now we are entering the decisive stage and we must focus well, and I hope that everyone will do what is required of them and focus completely.

“We would not like to forget the role of substitute players, especially in the last match, they were a good addition to the team and helped their colleagues a lot. We are facing an organized Al Wakrah team that has high-level players, but we will seek to decide the match and focus on the field.

“You know very well the injuries in our team currently, I spoke with the club management about the need to sign another defender. Of course we worked on the return of Yousef Ayman, which actually happened and he played a good match against Umm Salal. Hakim Ziyech is a great addition for us and will help the team at the offensive level in a big way,” said Galtier.

Al Duhail player Abdullah Al Ahraq said, “Al Wakrah matches are always strong and it is important for us in our journey to win the title. We prepared well during the past days for the match amid great competition between the players and everyone seeks to provide the best with the team and this is a positive factor that serves the team’s interest.

“I was lucky to score the winning goal in the last match, of course it was an important match, but we have to focus on the upcoming matches and try to perform well throughout the match, and not limit it to specific periods of match time only.”