Al Sadd will be looking to temporally head to the top of the QSL standings with a win over Al Shahania in the first game of the weekend. Head coach Jesaldo Ferriera spoke to the media ahead of the game. 

The Portuguese coach opened up his press conference stressing that all sides in the QSL can be a challenge for Al Sadd. “All of the matches are difficult, even if we are playing against a team who are struggling in Al Shahania my players will ready for tomorrow.” 

Ferriera also had an injury update on four key first team players ahead of the match. “Khalfan Ibrahim, Hassan Haydoos and Morteza Pouraliganji have all been training well this week we are preparing them slowly with the next group of games in mind. As for Jugurtha Hamroun he looks like he will be unavailable for the game.” 

Despite missing key players in recent weeks, Ferriera is pleased that younger players have stepped up for Al Sadd. “My philosophy is to work with young players to replace the big names we have missing at the moment this philosophy seems to be doing well for us as Hamza Sanhaji has scored four goals for us in recent weeks.” 

Ferriera ended the press conference stressing that the league is very much the aim of this Al Sadd side.“Our goal is to win the league and that will be happen game by game, we have a important game in Champions League and this game will be preparation for that also. 

As for Al Shahanaia they are currently in the QSL relegation zone, and will be looking to register a win to pull their way out of trouble. Croatian head coach Igor Štimac spoke to the media ahead of the match. 

Štimac opened up the press conference noting that the match will be a major challenge for his side. “We are playing a big team in Qatar in Al Sadd who are fighting for the title and have plenty of quality all over the pitch. We have been trying to find out ways on the training pitch to find out some ways to better them and at the end of the day, we will try to do our best.”

“Five teams are in the relegation battle, with three others in the danger zone. We cannot expect much from games against the top sides such as Al Sadd, El Jaish and Lekhwiya so we have to focus against the teams in our league and focus on the teams and games around us” noted the Croatian coach at the press conference on Wednesday morning. 

The Al Shahania boss also added he will be without two key players for the match. “We have had plenty of difficulties but we have pulled together as a family. I will be without Mehrdad Pooladi and Rahim Zahivi though injury for this game.” 

Štimac ended the press conference insisting that his side have the capabilities to upset the second placed side in the QSL. “We having nothing to loose from a match against Al Sadd for my side.Tomorrow is a big game for my players, I can see that they believe we can get a result and upset Al Sadd.”