Ferreira: Umm Salal will be tough; Hamroun’s absence will not be a problem

Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira spoke to the media on Sunday and said that the upcoming match against Umm Salal was a difficult one. The QSL Round 11 match is set to be played on Monday at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Ferreira said: “Everyone expects the match to be easy but I don’t agree. The responsibility is great now; we need to focus completely against Umm Salal to get the win, especially as they are a very difficult team and are playing well. But I am really confident in my team and their ability to win and implement whatever I ask of them.”

As for the preparation ahead of the match, the boss said: “The preparations that we had before the match against Al-Rayyan – we’re doing the same for the Umm Salal game, which will be really difficult. The result in the Rayyan game was not expected especially as they are the defending champions. Of course, the players are feeling delighted after that win. We are fully motivated for the Umm Salal match and we will seek to avoid errors during the match.”

Ferreira added: “We played a near-perfect match against Al-Rayyan, with a lot of focus. Most of the players showed an excellent level. It will be difficult to repeat it in the next few years considering the huge result against a team who are the defending champions. I was impressed by the performance because it gave lots of confidence to the players, which helped me to grow a winning mentality. Al-Sadd must always look to win every match it plays.”

As for the absence of Hamroun, Ferreira said: “Hamroun is an important player and the player who will replace him is an important player who will give his best. All the players are ready. Al-Sadd play as a team and not as individuals. Hamroun’s absence will not be a problem for the team. All that we are seeking is a win to get closer to the top.”