Spanish coach Juanma Leo warned Al Sadd against overconfidence before facing Al Shahania, which is scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, in the semi-finals of the fifty-first edition of the Prince Football Cup 2023.
The coach said in the press conference held today: We aim to pass to the final match of the tournament, which has a lot of importance and privacy in Qatari football, before we go on to compete for the title of the beloved competition for our team. Being the most culminating in it, but we must not anticipate events, and think about how to overcome the chauvinism; Because thinking about the title means underestimating the opponent and not respecting him enough, and therefore most of our focus is on facing tomorrow in order to provide a decent level that will help us achieve what we aspire to.".
added: "Al-Shahaniya’s passage to the quarter-finals at the expense of Al-Wakra in the final price round may have come as a surprise to everyone, but qualifying for the semi-finals at the expense of Al-Gharafa was not the case, compared to the great level presented by Al-Shahaniya and its game without any deficiency. Being active in the second division, by following a distinctive tactical system in which the players adhere to the roles assigned to them, and implement the plan of the technical staff with great efficiency, and therefore we must be at the top of our presence and focus in the match.".
The Spanish coach of Al Sadd team concluded by saying: "We realize that the chances of winning the Emir Cup seem ample after we reached the semi-finals, compared to our position in the league, but logic dictates that we deal with the matches separately, regardless of the occasion. In order for us to achieve what is required of us by achieving victory, whether in the semi-final match of the Emir Cup tomorrow, or in our last three matches in the league.".
In turn, Ahmed Al-Saeed, Al-Sadd player, said: "We are fully ready to face Al-Shahaniya in order to win and qualify for the final, in an effort to win the great title that is dear to everyone, but we realize at the same time that the task will not be easy in front of a competitor who surprised everyone by reaching this advanced stage after good levels he presented in the eighth and quarter-final rounds".
added: "Football does not recognize differences, so the chances of qualifying for the final match seem equal, which requires us to do our best on the field to win.".
Al-Shahaniya had rejected all speculations to reach the semi-finals of the Emir Cup, thus becoming the second team from the second division to achieve this achievement in the history of the tournament, after two resounding surprises, by overcoming Al-Wakra first in the final price round with a penalty shootout 3-1 after a 1-1 draw in Regular time, then beat Al Gharafa in the quarter-finals in the same way 5-4 after a 3-3 draw in normal time.
In turn, Al-Sadd, the most crowned champion 18 times, crossed into the semi-finals after surpassing Umm Salal by three goals to one in the quarter-finals, after it had defeated Al-Markhiya from the second division in the final price by four goals.
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