Umm Salal coach Patrice Beaumelle spoke to the media ahead of their 2024-2025 season Play-Off match against Al Markhiya.

“We have played many matches this season, but this particular match is the most important and difficult for us. It is crucial in every sense of the word.

“We achieved two important victories in our last two league matches against Al Ahli and Al Arabi, and I see the team’s performance improving steadily. We will enter the Al Markhiya match fully prepared, with the spirit and ambition to advance and achieve our desired goal.

“The pressure on the players makes the match more difficult and I hope it does not negatively affect them during the match. We are fully prepared and our focus is entirely on this decisive match.

“The important thing is that we focus on ourselves and play with the same high spirit and enthusiasm that we showed in the league matches. I have great confidence in the players and their ability to give their best to achieve victory and ensure our survival in the First Division,” said Beaumelle.

Umm Salal player Antonio Manse said, “This is a single, decisive match and there is no alternative but to win. I have never played against Al Markhiya, but it is a special match and we will do everything in our capacity to achieve victory.

“We are training with all our strength and focus in preparation for this great challenge, and we realize that victory is essential for us, especially in view of the intense pressure we are feeling. However, we are ready to fight until the last second of the match to achieve our goal.”