Al Shahania will take on the Lekhwiya in the QSL match of the week for the final round of the season. Al Shahania head coach Igor Štimac spoke with the media ahead of the tie. 

The Croatian coach opened up the press conference reacting to the news that Al Shahania are to take on Qatar SC with a chance to stay in the QSL on the line.  “It’s a very good decision from the authorities to allow Al Shahania take on Qatar SC in the relegation play-off and I would like to thank them for making this decision.”

“We have a final game against the new champions Lekhwiya, I am expecting them to rest players and I am doing the same as we have to focus on the relegation play-off. This is a good opportunity for my squad to show what they can do and stake their claim for the Qatar SC game”  noted Štimac when asked about his team selection for the Saturday evening game. 

Štimac ended the press conference noting that despite resting a number of key players, he is expecting a exciting game against the new QSL champions. “I am very excited for this game for my young players, they have been training well recently and I am interested to see how they will come together and work in this game, as they are the future of Al Shahania and the future of Qatari football.” 

Lekhwiya are set to celebrate their fifth ever QSL crown on Saturday evening, after confirming their status as champions last weekend with a last-gasp win over Al Ahli. Red Knights coach Djamel Belmadi spoke with the media ahead of the game. 

Belmadi opened up their press conference confirming that he will be resting key players for the match. “We have reached our target of being the champions, but this game is important as we want to end the season on a high. We will be giving opportunity to other players with important games ahead in the domestic cups and Champions League.”

“It’s apt that Nam Tae Hee scored the winning goal, he has been present in Lekhwiya’s history and has been one of our most consistent players this campaign” added the Algerian coach when asked about the last minute winner against Al Ahli. 

This will be the last game in the league for Lekhwiya ahead of their proposed merger with El Jaish, however Belmadi has been clear that he is not focusing on this heading into the end of the season. “I haven't thought about it to be honest. The players and myself are focused on the end of the season, in terms of the fusion this is for the team management to discuss not me.”