Ferreira: Fatigue is an issue for us

Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira expressed his concern about fatigue affecting his team, after a series of tough back-to-back matches recently.

Speaking after the 4-2 win over Al-Gharafa in the quarterfinals of the Amir Cup, Ferreira said: “The match was tough, as we expected. Everyone saw how much our players are suffering from fatigue, as a result of the congested schedule of matches in the recent phase.”

He added: “We scored four goals despite the difficulty of the match and we achieved our goal of reaching the semifinal. Al-Gharafa played well and made the match tough for us in the final minutes.”

“The Al-Sadd players are playing continuously since July of last year, and are under a lot of pressure, with the club and with the national team. It is normal to feel tired and I hope that they can overcome that psychologically in order to win the upcoming matches both at home and in Asia.”

Ferreira also said: “When we made it 3-0, everyone thought that the match was over but in the world of football, there is nothing like that. It is not easy to play every four days. The players are giving their best. I am not giving excuses but I am just pointing at reality and what the players are going through.”