Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 16 match against Al Sailiya.

“Our matches against Al Sailiya are always difficult, and our previous experiences against them were not good for us in terms of results. Al Sailiya depend on direct play and on the attackers’ crosses, and they look for spaces behind the line of defence in order to create danger for the opposing team. We will strive to give everything we have to win this match.

“After a break, we now have an exciting period full of matches in various competitions and I am sure that we are all here to compete and provide the best performance to please the followers and fans. The coming period may be hectic with many matches, but this is normal in football and we have to be ready to compete,” said Jokanovic.

Al Gharafa player Abdullah Al Khatim said, “The points from the next match are of great importance to us. Our morale is high and that has helped us prepare well. Al Sailiya are a respectable team, but we are ready and we hope to succeed.

“Participation is a great opportunity and motivation for me, and I thank the club management for its confidence in me. I promise to do my best on the field.”