Al Gharafa coach Slavisa Jokanovic spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 8 match against Al Ahli.

“I was keen to watch some of Al Ahli’s matches they played in recent times. They are a team that started the season really well and are currently among the top teams. They are in second place and above Al Gharafa. It is a team that has good players who offer distinguished levels and are well-organised. Their players always focus on their work and their way of playing. They tried to use this period to develop the team level so that it is more competitive during their matches.

“Unfortunately in the recent period, we lost two players who will be absent for a long time due to injuries - Almahdi Ali and Abdullah Al Saai. I wish them speedy recovery and quick return to football. Now we will work in their absence during the next stage.

“This is a situation that I understand because it is part of football and it happens to any team and my message to the players is always work and do not lose hope. No one knows when the moment comes when the team needs it. Now we have Tamim Al Muhaza and Saeed Al Hajj playing in the same position and we expect to see them regularly with the team in the next stage.

“It can be considered a match with six points, where a lot can happen and therefore we see it as an important match. We are working to find the ideal way to achieve victory and my confidence is great in the players who have shown great desire to succeed in this campaign," said Jokanovic.

Al Gharafa player Ahmed Al Janehi said, “We will strive for a victory to exchange positions with (second-placed) Al Ahli. And yes, we are aware that a difficult match awaits us. I am happy with the two goals that I scored against Al Khor and the most important thing for me is that the team won the three points. I always aspire to score goals and be ready with whatever role the team needs from me.

“It is obvious that the last two victories represented a positive value for the team, but now they are past. We want to look to the future as we aspire to post our third successive victory in order to advance to the second place in the league.”