DOHA : Italian coach Roberto Mancini said Al Sadd are fully prepared and determined to win the Super Shield when they face Shabab Al Ahli on Friday at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari-Emirati Super Cup.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mancini said his side had completed its preparations over recent days and were targeting their first title of the season, while acknowledging the challenge posed by a strong opponent with high-quality players.
“The match is like a final and will be decided by small details,” Mancini said. “It requires maximum effort, high concentration and the best performance from the players.”
He added that Friday’s encounter would differ from the teams’ previous meeting in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, which Al Sadd won, noting that motivation would be high on both sides.
“In every match we play, we look for victory, even in training sessions,” Mancini said. He also expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress since taking charge, saying he had seen clear development and commitment from the players in their efforts to meet fans’ expectations.
Mancini noted that Al Hilal won the Super Shield last season and said the current campaign presented a good opportunity for Al Sadd to lift the trophy.
Al Sadd forward Roberto Firmino echoed his coach’s confidence, saying the players were eager to deliver a strong performance and make supporters happy.
“Final matches are always exciting and highly competitive,” Firmino said. “I enjoy these games and try to motivate my teammates to give more to win this title.”
He added that Al Sadd were fully aware of the difficulty of facing an experienced Shabab Al Ahli side, but said that only sharpened their focus on securing victory.
