Gulf Times
Former champions Al Rayyan will take on second division outfit Al Markhiya in the Amir Cup quarter-final at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd Club today at 6.30pm.
Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre, who last won the trophy in 2013 in his first spell at the club, said he doesn’t want to take any opponents lightly.
“We don’t take our opponents lightly. We respect every team, no matter who the opponents are. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play,” Aguirre said during a pre-match press conference held at Al Bidda Tower on Tuesday.
Asked whether the team is in better shape than when they won the Amir Cup in 2013, Aguirre said the team is strong enough to face any challenges and will hopefully win the title again.
“I’m confident that we can show everyone how strong and capable we are. My team fight every ball, every minute. I like this spirit. That’s our strength. We are here to win game-by-game. That’s our ultimate goal,” Aguirre added.
Al Rayyan are not only six-times Amir Cup champions but have also been in excellent form in the ongoing QNB Stars League.
Al Rayyan’s player Lee Jae-Ik, who was out of the final squad for sometime due to injury, is back in the team and he’s confident that he can showcase the best in the field.
The young South-Korean defender is very keen to play against Markhiya in their quarter-final clash and he thanked his teammates and coach for extending their utmost support and motivation to come back to the field after recovery.
“Unfortunately I was out of the game for two months. Both my coach and team members have been supporting me highly and hopefully I can perform the best I can against Al Markhiya,” Jae-Ik said.
Al Markhiya eye strong show
A l Markhiya was the only second division team to make the quarter-finals of this year’s Amir Cup when they knocked out QNB Stars League regulars Al Gharafa 1-0 in their round of 16 clash.
They face a daunting task in today’s quarter-final clash against former champions Al Rayyan. However, their assistant coach Yasin Sharaf Mishaui believes that both teams have an equal chance of winning this match.
“We know Al Rayyan is a strong team. But I believe that the game will be equal and the team that manages to play with complete concentration will emerge victorious,” Mishaui said.
When asked about team’s preparation, coach said they train to make every players 100 percent ready for the clash. The players know the importance of preparing well.
“We can’t afford to make any mistakes. Al Rayyan are always a tough opposition to play against and they have shown that in the past. However, our collective team spirit is very encouraging and hopefully the players will make an impact in the field,” Mishaui added.