Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah and Akram Afif celebrate after scoring in this file photo.
Doha: Al Sadd are keen on focusing on the task at hand instead of looking back at past records when they take on QNB Stars League (QSL) winners Al Duhail in the Qatar Cup final tomorrow.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s team, which finished second in the QSL, will be looking to avenge their twin QSL losses to Djamel Belmadi’s side in the title clash and retain the Cup they won last year.
The Portuguese coach exhorted his players to be ready for the tough task which lies in wait for them tomorrow.
“Against Al Duhail, it is going to be very tough. They have won the league competition (QSL) with an unbeaten record and won all group matches in the AFC Champions League. I do not think much about the future. I am focused on the assignment on hand,” said Ferreira yesterday.
“We had beaten Al Duhail in the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup even though we lost in both phases of the QNB Stars League. But then, in the second-phase match, we almost won, but for the two last-gasp goals. Before that face-off, the difference between the two teams was only two points. We had faced some difficulties in the first phase, such as injuries to key players and national-team duties,” he added.
Ferreira said they have focused all their energy in preparing the right way for the important clash.
“This is the sixth final Al Sadd are playing under me and we hope this is going to be in favour of us. We are facing a strong team not only in Qatar, perhaps the strongest in Asia as can be made out from Al Duhail’s results in the AFC Champions League. That is why we are preparing in the best possible way,” he said.
Al Sadd, which picked up two domestic titles last season, is aiming to add more titles having won the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup.
“We are also counting on the support of our fans. They will support us like anything and that is an advantage for us. Last season was very good for us. We finished as runners-up in the league and won the Qatar Cup and Emir Cup. This season was also not bad for us,” he said while reflecting on the club achievements in the last two seasons.
Ferreira’s team beat Al Rayyan 6-4 in the penalty shootout to make it to the title clash after both the teams shared two goals apiece at the end of regular period of play.
On the other hand, Al Duhail coasted to an easy 6-1 win over Al Gharafa, with all the goals coming in the second half.
Meanwhile, Ferreira backed the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.
“As far as the Video Assistant Referee system, I am all for technology that assists the game and impacts the end result in a better way. VAR should help us avoid many blunders like those happened in the past,” said Ferreira.
Al Sadd’s ace striker Baghdad Bounedjah said the players are determined to retain the Cup.
“This game is going to be different from the league matches. I hope all my team-mates will rise to the big occasion. We will do everything we can to retain the cup. Al Duhail are strong and so are we. They keep scoring many goals in most of the matches so we will defend well,” Bounedjah said.
