Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 19 match against Al Ahli.

“Both teams know each other well. We are preparing to be ready, physically and mentally, in order to win the three points.

“As I said, we know Al Ahli well as they also know us. They make great efforts during the matches and we noticed recently that they are changing the style of play during games. In general, the matches differ and we must not leave any room to be surprised by anything. It could lead to a negative result for us. We have to trust our capabilities and press hard during the match to win the three points.

“It is always important to gain points. Our last victory (over Al Khor) should help boost our morale and increase our confidence. We know that we did not present a perfect level in terms of performance. We could score three goals, but we still need to be more organised and must not give opportunities to the rivals,” said Jokanovic.

Al Gharafa player Moaz Yahya said, “We must focus on all matches and treat them as a final. Al Ahli had started the season well, but then their performance level fluctuated. For us, the most important thing is to score goals and play with great respect for all teams. We need these three points.

“Regarding our victory over Al Khor in the last round… it was an important win although we did not want them to score against us. The good thing in that match was the return of some players, such as Ahmed Alaaeldin. The victory also boosted our morale and helped us get back to the winning path.”