Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd’s new signing Romain Saiss said the team will go out all for victory even though a draw might be enough in their final group stage match Libya’s Ahli Tripoli at the King Salman Club Cup on Wednesday at 4pm.
Sadd top the group with four points from two matches, and a win at the Damac Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia, will take them through to knockouts as group toppers.
Sadd are on a high after defeating Saudi giants Al Hilal in a thriller with Gonzalo Plata scoring the winners in stoppage time. Wydad and Ahli are on two points, while Al Hilal have one point. in a In a simultaneous kick-off on Wednesday, Al Hilal will be up against Morocco’s Wydad at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.
Al Sadd, who did not have the services of many players during their goalless draw against Wydad in their opener, were served by new recruits Saiss, Paulo Otavio and Plata in their 3-2 thrilling win over Hilal.
On the other hand, Ahli earned their points from draws against Hilal and Wydad, and will be looking to surprise Sadd and reach the quarterfinals.
Defender Saiss, who joined Sadd from Turkey’s Besiktas, said the team was prepared for the match. "Another challenging match awaits us, and victory is crucial for us. Ahli Tripoli also has a chance to qualify. While one point may be enough for us to advance, we must not rely on this assumption. Our goal is to win and top the group,” the Moroccan said on the eve of the clash.
"I’m was delighted to come in for a few minutes against Hilal. It’s true that my fitness is not at its peak, but I work daily to be prepared and give my best to assist the team in reaching the furthest stage in the tournament. I hope both Al Sadd and Wydad (Moroccan team) qualify for the quarter-finals. Overall, Moroccan football is in a better state after the recent results, and I’m proud of the Moroccan teams, Wydad and Raja, and their presence in this tournament. I wish them success,” Saiss added.
Meanwhile, Sadd assistant coach Emanuel Infante will approach the game against Ahli with full force. "As we prepare for this match, we are aware that we are facing a different opponent. We are formulating a unique strategy to rectify our previous errors and thoroughly analyse our opponents to ensure our peak performance,” he said.
"We approach this match with full force, aiming to secure a victory. Relying on chance is not our way. We are continuously evolving from one match to another, and we hope to put up our best performance against Ahli Tripoli to achieve victory,” Infante added.
Infante underlined the significance of the tournament, where all teams are on equal footing, and success depends on performance. He explained: "At this stage, it’s too early to speak of winning the championship. Our sole focus is on each individual match, and our primary goal is to secure a place in the quarter-finals. With all four teams having a fair chance at qualification, we remain vigilant and committed. Ahli Tripoli’s remarkable fitness and skilled players motivate us to deliver nothing less than our best to secure victory.”
Regarding the participation of new players from the start of the match, Infante clarified, "The decision to involve new players depends on match circumstances, and our coaching staff will assess their readiness to start or participate in parts of the game.”