Ferreira: It was an important win; we overcame the challenge using youngsters

Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira described his side’s 1-0 win over Al-Ahli in Monday’s QSL Round 15 match as “an important” result.

Speaking to the media at the post-match press conference, Ferreira said: “The match was very difficult for us. Al-Ahli are physically strong, have tall players and also always play on the counter. And so the match was difficult and the win is a very important one for us.”

The boss added: “Throughout the match, we tried to score goals. With this team, we did not depend on long balls because we don’t have tall players. Thank God we scored the lone goal and got the three points. I am also happy with the spirit of the young players during these matches, especially as they are under 19 years of age. I think the club management is happy that we are depending on the youth players and playing them in the league.”

Ferreira also pointed to the absence of the unavailable players affecting the team, saying: “We depended on short passing and it was through such moves that we scored the winner through Meshaal Al-Shammari. Everyone knows the difficulties the team is going through now with all the injuries and suspensions. In the last match, we were missing 4 players and today against Al-Ahli, we missed 3 players. But we achieved the most important thing and that is winning both matches and getting the six points.”

As for the decrease in the goal per game ratio in Al-Sadd’s recent matches, Ferreira said: “Everyone knows that Al-Sadd had an average of 3 goals per game. But with the heavy schedule of matches and the absence of key players, the team is only winning by one goal. There is no time to train with the packed schedule.”

The Portuguese coach went on to conclude by saying: “I hope no player gets injured. I am happy that Ali Asad will return in the next game against Lekhwiya. In Portugal, there is a saying: One who doesn’t have dogs for hunting, he will hunt with cats. I congratulate all the players for what they showed today.”