Alkass Digital
Srecko Katanec is confident his Uzbekistan players know how to deliver the performance required to overcome champions Qatar in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ as the Central Asians look to progress to the last four for the first time since 2011.
Uzbekistan defeated Qatar in the opening game of the AFC Asian Cup the last time the tournament was played in the West Asian country before going on to reach the semi-finals, where they were eventually knocked out by Australia.
And after impressing at the current edition of the continental showpiece, Katanec is putting his faith in his players to deliver another strong performance when they take on Marquez Lopes’ hosts at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday.
My job is to prepare the team as best I can,” said the Slovenian. “We are together two-and-a-half years and if they don’t know how to play now it will be wrong, but I’m confident they know. They know we have to be organised.
“All coaches are smarter when we win, but we depend on the players, on their qualities and the game tomorrow is starting from 18:30 for two hours and they have to be in good shape.
“We reach already a nice position, we didn’t lose, we have conceded less goals so they have to worry, like we have to be worried.”
Katanec praised the performance of Diyor Kholmatov in the win over Thailand in the Round of 16 as the 21-year-old Pakhtakor midfielder made his first start at international level and insists he is maintaining his approach of not looking beyond the next match.
“When we started this Asian Cup I said I know the situation, that we go game by game,” he said. “Tomorrow is another game. We did well, but it was what it was, so we will try to do our best.
“We are good. I have a nice group of players. They have to be confident, we reached (the quarter-finals) and tomorrow, it’s the game. So go ahead. We have nothing to lose, give everything and I’ll be satisfied with the team.”
The Uzbeks will be faced by a capacity crowd at Al Bayt Stadium as the home fans continue to throw their support behind Lopes’ team with Qatar looking to become the first nation since Japan in 2004 to successfully defend the title.
“We have reached what we are looking for, we’re in the quarter-finals and if anyone thinks we can’t make it to the final that is up to them,” the Spaniard, a late appointment in December to replace Carlos Queiroz, said.
“There’s no negative pressure on the players, they are well motivated. They want to win. There’s going to be positive pressure for us to achieve in this very difficult game.”
Qatar have reached the quarter-finals in impressive form, winning four games in a row, scoring seven times and conceding just once, with key individuals such as former AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif and captain Hassan Al Haydos shining in particular.
“The quality of the players and the performance of the team mean we have made it to the quarter-final,” said Lopes. “We have talented players and we have fast players, possibly the fastest players in the competition. But this is going to be a very physical game.”
Qatar v Uzbekistan
Venue: Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor)
Kick-off: 18:30 (UTC+3)