Sadd looking to confirm top 4 status with Gharafa win.

Al Sadd have had a topsy-turvy season so far. They are the only team to have beaten Al Rayyan this season but haven’t been able to produce consistent results.  

Head coach Jesaldo Ferreria was eager to stress that his side are on good form going into the game.

“We have won two games now, and we are on a roll however a match against Al Gharafa won’t be that straight forward.” Claimed Sadd Jesaldo Ferreria at his sides pre-match press conference on Saturday morning.

Sadd are currently in fourth in the league, and have Umm Salal behind them on fifth place, just four points behind, however Ferreira noted that Sadd where in the box seat for the Qatar cup place.

“We are in a good position in the league, and we have to now push on our aim is to finish as high as possible and get into a good form for the cup competitions.” added the Portuguese tactician.

Ferreria also noted that striker Bagdad Bounjah could be in contention for the match on Monday, pending a late fitness test.

Sadd Head Coach Jesualdo Ferreira concluded with some warm words for his opponent Pedro Caixina. “ I know the coach, he is a good man. I am looking forward to a competitive match.”



 
Meanwhile Gharafa are looking to put up a stronger defensive display after having conceded 11 goals in their last four matches. In their last match against Umm Salal, they shipped in four goals in a 4-4 draw.

“Our team is scoring goals but we need to be totally focused when we are defending too. We hope to be a total team - a team that plays total football. We want to be a team that attacks but also a team that defends all their lines. In the last match we made a lot of mistakes and that cost us a lot of goals,” said Gharafa Head Coach Pedro Caixinha during the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Gharafa are currently in eighth place with 26 points but coach Caixinha said that his team still had the ambition of finishing in the top 4. “Since the beginning of our new cycle, we have said that we want to finish in the top 4. We can only take it game by game. But we will never lose our identity. We are an attacking team. We play happy football, which the fans love to watch. We just need to play with more concentration,” said Caixinha.  
 
“Rayyan scored 14 goals since we took over. We have scored the same number of goals. But we cannot concede the number of goals we have. Leagues all over the world, the champions always have an average of goals scored above 1.5 and below 1 when it comes to conceded goals. That’s our target from now,” he added.