Salim Cheniouni
Doha, Qatar. Al-Sadd are 90 minutes away
from reaching yet another AFC Champions League semi-finals, when they take on
Esteghlal Tehran at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium here, today. The two-time winners will
look to take full advantage from the away leg match, which they won 3-1 in
Tehran.
Jesualdo
Ferreira’s men had their last training session before the game at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. However, Ferreira refused to count
out the opposition, saying, “I know that Esteghlal Tehran were able to turn the
result in the UAE versus Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League group. Estegalal
Tehran were losing 3-1 to Al Ain in the first leg and managed to win 3-0 in the
second leg and managed to qualify.”
Keeping
aside the first leg game, he added: “I will not see the outcome of our first
leg game against Esteghlal Tehran… We will concentrate for 90 minutes. We will
concentrate and play in a high team spirit because we seek to be in the AFC
Champions League semi-finals.”
Al-Sadd’s
star striker, Hassan Al-Haydos, who was present
during the press conference, also refused to take the game lightly. “Esteghlal
Tehran arrived in Doha two or three days ago and did not travel here for
tourism. Their team has nothing to lose, there is no pressure on them and they
want to achieve a historic result for them and Iran. We know that and the coach
knows that we have our plan and strategy to avoid a potential comeback.”
Later, Esteghlal
Tehran player Ruzbi Chishmi spoke to reporters about the key match. “The result
of the first game was not good for us and our fans and we apologize to them
because of that. We have the opportunity to make up for it and we are 100 per cent
ready to provide our best football and seize our chances until the final
whistle. We will fight with our hearts and souls in order to achieve that.”