Qatar- El Jaish aim to bounce back after two successive defeats

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Doha: El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi (pictured) has a clear message for his team ahead of today’s key clash against Al Sadd.

Placed second just 10 days ago Qatar Stars League (QSL) giants El Jaish (23 points) have now slipped to third spot after defeats against Qatar SC and Umm Salal. Al Sadd (24) are in second place behind Al Rayyan (33).

“We will be playing this match in what is a difficult period for us. We have to stop losing points” Lamouchi said yesterday.

“We have to find solutions for that” the Tunisian said.

“Only a collective effort will get us out of this situation” he added.

Lamouchi said El Jaish has analysed it’s edgy performances in the last two weeks.

“When we analyse our last few results we can clearly see the issues we have had” Lamouchi said.

Lamouchi said El Jaish’s clash against Al Sadd means his team meeting a side with a rich history in Qatar football.

“We are playing a big team with a big history a team that plays only for titles” Lamouchi said. “We are in a difficult situation is when we have to show our quality our personality and our strengths” he added.

“But the circumstances are also because we have had some key injuries in the defensive line. But we have to have confidence in our quality” he explained

“When you play teams Al like Rayyan and Al Sadd the players know that have to give it their all. But against some other teams the level of the players could have dropped a bit. That has cost us a few points” he said

“I am optimistic about my team considering the quality that we have. I am confident that they will give their best and get the result” Lamouchi concluded.

Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira said Al Sadd will continue to aim for wins.

“Today is a special day for me because we are coming off a great victory against Al Rayyan. We don’t have any choice but to continue looking for wins” Ferreira said yesterday.

“And that is why we have to play with the same level of performance which we showed in the last match” he added.

“As a coach I can say that the players have understood my style of working. We need to have the same enthusiasm which we showed last week. We have to look to play better than we did last week. I think now the team is better and we will get more results” Al Sadd coach said.

Ferreira reminded media that Al Sadd remained a threat in Qatar football.

“Al Rayyan is a great team and the start of the league was wonderful for them. But we have to remember that Al Sadd is also a great team and our history is as great if not bigger than that of Al Rayyan” Ferreira said yesterday.

“So we at Al Sadd shouldn’t consider other teams to be bigger or more important than us. Al Sadd is a great team and that’s why the ambition of the team should be to win all the games” he said.

“We have to know that there is no impossible game in this league and for Al Sadd there’s nothing impossible. I am saying that because we are working hard with the players - the starting 11 and also those on the bench.

“I am very happy to be accompanied by Xavi today. I am happy to be work with this great star everyday. As Xavi said there’s no yesterday in football. We have to start focussing on the next match. We are pleased with the win but as a great team we have to continue to have the motivation and the determination” he said.

The Peninsula