Umm Salal take on Al Khor in the first match of the season for both teams at the Qatar SC stadium this Friday. Both teams will be looking to make positive start to the league season.
 
Umm Salal finished last season in fifth place and this season they will aiming to get into the top four positions to secure an AFC Champion League spot.
 
Bulent Uygun, the head coach of Umm Salal, said that he expects of tough season ahead,
“Its going to be a tough season because four teams are going down instead of two. This will create new challenges for every team.”
 
“We had a really good training camp and our players are motivated. The beginning of the season is always difficult as Al Khor is a strong team and it will be difficult to beat them,” added the Turkish tactician at a press conference on Wednesday.
 
Umm Salal have had some changes in their squad ahead of the new season and Uygun is hoping that this change can lead to something positive.  “Mounir El Hamdaoui and Sanzhar Tursunov were changed and change can be positive or negative and we hope its positive,” added the 45 year old head coach.


 
 
AL Khor ended last season in tenth place avoiding relegation. This season they will be targeting for a better position in the QSL table by having a positive start to the season against Umm Salal.
 
Jean Fernandez the head coach of Al Khor is trusting his players to deliver this season, “We had a vey good training camp. We have trust in our players to perform well this season. Umm Salal is a strong team and their coach is with them for a long time that’s why they are a stable team.”
 
“Of course this season is tougher than last season. This season will be very tough for Al Khor. Fighting relegation is in our mind but what we have to do is to prepare a strong team and fight to remain in the QSL,” added the Frenchman.