Defending champions Al Duhail face Al Gharafa
DOHA: Defending champions Al Duhail will face Al Gharafa in a fourth round match in the Qatar Stars League here on Sunday.
Al Duhail last week played against Tajikistan’s Istiklol FC in a group match, which ended in a goalless draw.
“The players are performing recovery exercises after our return from Tajikistan. We’r still waiting for the injured to return. A big match against Al Gharafa awaits us. We know that we will face a strong team and we will work hard to achieve victory over them,” said Duhail coach Hernan Crespo.
“We are still at the beginning of the season and our ranks are almost complete. We are only missing Edmilson and Diallo, but we must be patient and deal realistically.
“In the previous match in the league against Al Arabi, we faced a fierce competitor who succeeded in tying with us in the last minute of the match and with a penalty kick. And in our first match in the AFC Champions League, we were the best on the field, but we still need improvement in ending the attack.
“Regarding the participation of new player (Philippe) Coutinho, I met the player two days ago while he was performing rehabilitation exercises and his participation with us will be determined by the doctor. Certainly, his participation will add a lot to the team,” said Crespo.
