Umm Salal will take on Al Wakrah on Saturday evening, aiming to avenge the 8-0 defeat they faced last time out against Al Sadd. New head coach Mahmoud Jaber spoke to the media ahead of the game. 

Opening up the press conference Jaber revealed his coaching credentials. “I have worked with the junior team since last season. I have the responsibility now with the team i will have only two training sessions with the club.I have a good idea of Umm Salal and how it works.”

Umm Salal head into the game after two straight defeats in the QSL and the Egyptian coach will be focusing on the players heading into the Wakrah game. “ I will be aiming to improve the mentality of the team, especially after losing two games. We will try to make them forget the results, we have a strong squad and we have to get back to winning ways. I would like to thank Bülent Uygun and his work with the side.”

Jaber also revealed that he is contracted to Umm Salal to the end of the season. Ending the press conference Jaber stressed that his side will be aiming to get the Orange Fortress back to winning ways. “We respect Al Wakrah, they have improved in the last few games. We will not focus on Wakrah’s position in the league. This is an important match for us, and I expect both teams to step up. Importantly we must win.”



As for Al Wakrah they are still in the relegation zone following their narrow 1-0 defeat to Al Rayyan last time out. 

Opening up the press conference Blue Waves coach  “Umm Salal have changed their coach, I know that the new coach will not have time to prepare the team. However the coach will come in with a motivation to get the win. Whilst the coach may have a different style and way to play, so coming into the game is difficult for us.”

“We just need to start picking up points now. It was frustrating against Al Rayyan because we played well and we came away with no points, despite playing well throughout the game” noted the Tunisian tactian at the Thursday morning press conference. 

Yâakoubi also added that he will be without a key striker heading into the crunch clash with Umm Salal “Maher Yusef is still injured for the game. Everyone else is ready, and the players know their responsibility to the club to get out of the situation we are in at the moment.”

Ended the conference the Yâakoubi suggested his side could be in the market for a striker come January. “Our problem at the moment is that we cannot finish off teams when we are leading. When we have opportunities to lead we must kill the game. That is our problem right now, I am trying everything with our strikers to improve their confidence, we may have to move for a new striker in January.”