Umm Salal coach Aziz Ben Askar spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 8 match against Al Kharaitiyat.

“Everyone in the club was disappointed after our loss to Al Sadd in Week 7, especially since the team played well. Unfortunately, we did not get any point. But I am confident that the team will progress because they we are working hard every day.

“Our next match (against Al Kharaitiyat) is very important for us and I hope we will get out of it with a result that makes everyone happy.

“As usual, we are working hard and I am happy that the players work in a distinguished way every day. I was disappointed that they made a great effort in the last match and did not get reward for that effort. We must try and not give up and we must be confident of our capabilities, especially after we rebuilt the team this season, a task that was not easy.

“We must continue to work hard until we take Umm Salal back to their deserving position. I knew from the beginning that this season will not be easy and we believe in ourselves and we will continue to work hard,” said Ben Askar.

Umm Salal player Ismail Mahmoud said, “What is happening to the team now is normal, especially since we are going through a phase in which a completely new team is being built after the recruitment of new players and the presence of youngsters, with an emphasis that the team is moving in the right path.

“Our team is developing. Despite the loss to Al Sadd, everyone praised the level of the team and the spirit that we played with, although we faced a strong side. We hope to show a better level in the next match.”