Duhail among the best in Asia but Sadd coach Ferreira confident
Doha: QNB Stars League champions Al Duhail SC are the best team in Qatar and among the strongest in Asia, but Al Sadd are confident of beating them in the Qatar Cup final on Friday, said the Wolves coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
“We are facing a strong team not only in Qatar, perhaps the strongest in Asia as can be made out from Al Duhail’s results in the AFC Champions league. That is why we are preparing in the best possible way,” said Ferreira at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“We had beaten Al Duhail in the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup even though we lost in both phases of the QNB Stars League. But then in the second-phase we almost won, but for the two last-gasp goals. Before that, the difference between the two teams was only two points. We had faced some difficulties in the first phase, such as injuries to key players and national-team duties,” said Ferreira.
Sadd had a disappointing campaign in the QSL last season before picking themselves up to with the Qatar Cu and the Emir Cup and Ferreira would be more than happy with a repeat.
“Last season was very good for us. We finished runners-up in the league and won the Qatar Cup and Emir’s Cup. This season was also not bad for us.
“This is the sixth final Sadd are playing under me and we hope this is going to be in favour of us. “We are also counting on the support of our fans. They will support us like anything and that is an advantage for us,” he said.
The Portuguese coach said it will be a tough match as Duhail are in sublime form.
“It is going to be very tough. They have won the league competition with an unbeaten record and won all group matches in the AFC Champions League,” he said.
Sadd’s ace striker Baghdad Bounedjah said: “This game is going to be different from the league matches. I hope we will rise to the big occasion. We will do everything to retain the cup. Al Duhail are strong, so are we. They keep scoring many goals in most of the matches, so we will defend well.”
