Ferreira: We respect Al-Arabi, fatigue will force us to rotate between players

Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira addressed the media on Thursday, ahead of the upcoming QNB Stars League game against Al-Arabi, declaring his ‘respect’ for the opponents who he said had ‘a big fanbase.’

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Ferreira said: “I expect the match to be an open one. It is difficult to predict the result.”

“The team played well against Al-Wasl in the AFC Champions League game. All the players displayed their capabilities well in that game and everyone saw that.”

Ferreira also added: “Until now, we haven’t been able to play with a full strength team.”

Asked about Akram Afif, Ferreira said: “He is a young player and he is working towards getting in sync with the club’s philosophy. He managed to put up a good performance.”

The coach also pointed out that there is a lot of competition in the squad for places in the lineup and that “this is a good thing.”

Looking back at the Champions League games, Ferreira also said: “Al-Sadd is not the only team who played well in Asia. All the four (Qatari) teams came up with great displays in their first matches.”

When asked if he feared the effect of fatigue on his players, Ferreira said: “The task is difficult because we are playing every three days and competing for the league and the Asian title forces us to rotate between the players. I hope the QFA considers serving the interests of the Qatari teams and give them enough time between matches.”

As for calls to rest Hassan Al-Haydos in the game against Al-Arabi, Ferreira said: “Al-Haydos is not the only player who needs rest. There are ten other players who also need it. It is a tough challenge but it won’t be impossible. What makes me calm is the big feeling of motivation among the players who are looking to compete for the league and the Asian title. This is not difficult for Al-Sadd, who won the continental title twice before.”

The Portuguese coach concluded by saying: “I have a lot of respect for Al-Arabi, their coach and their players. It is a derby and the derby always brings surprises. We won’t judge Al-Arabi by their recent matches. We need to give our best and we won’t allow Al-Arabi to get a win on our account.”

Ferreira also confirmed that Khoukhi Boualem will not be part of the squad for the game.