Doha, March 30 (QNA) - Al Markhiya coach Madjid Bougherra stressed the difficulty of their match against Al Sadd on Sunday within the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 19.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 19 match against Al Sadd, Bougherra said: "We play all the matches to earn points and advance in the league, and we know that Al Sadd are a different team and are playing to win the league. All matches at the end of the season are difficult.
"As you know, after our match against Qatar SC, we had an international break coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, and our next match against Al Sadd is also during the month of Ramadan, which requires a special programme, so we need to pay attention to recovery and physical fitness.
"We still have five matches, and we are at the bottom of the league, and we have lost some opportunities to move up.
"We must double our efforts, as we did in some previous matches, in order to continue working to achieve victories," said Bougherra.
For his part, Al Sadd coach Wesam Rizik said: "A strong match awaits us against Al Markhiya. Three points are very important for us in order to remain in the lead. The ambitions of the two teams are different. We are seeking to win to continue to lead and Al Markhiya are seeking to escape from the late positions.
"Al Markhiya are a good team and their presence in last place does not match the capabilities of the players and the team's coach Madjid Bougherra, and therefore the game will be very difficult and intense.
"We have entered the decisive stage of the league championship and there is no room for mistakes or wasting points. Al Sadd players are up to the responsibility in order to provide the best and achieve victories," said Wesam. (QNA)