DOHA : Al Arabi coach Cosmin Contra underlined the importance of his side’s upcoming Doha Bank Stars League clash against Umm Salal, saying every point would be crucial in strengthening their position in the standings.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the 14th-round match, Contra said Umm Salal would pose a difficult challenge despite their position near the bottom of the table.
“The Umm Salal match is very important. Every point has its weight in our journey,” Contra said. “They have nothing to lose and will fight for the points to move away from the lower positions. With the players and capabilities they have, it will be a tough match.”
Contra added that Al Arabi needed to recover quickly after a demanding QSL Cup encounter against Qatar SC.
“We had a long and difficult match in the QSL Cup, and now we must prepare well for Umm Salal,” he said. “Our objective is not only to get a positive result, but to deliver a strong performance that ensures continuity.”
Al Arabi player Mohammed Khaled Al-Nuaimi said the squad was fully focused on securing all three points.
“All the players are ready and determined to give their best,” Al-Nuaimi said. “We are progressing steadily towards the top, treating every match like a final. Winning is our only goal to keep the positive run going.”
He added that morale in the dressing room was high and stressed the importance of collective focus over the full 90 minutes, expressing confidence that the team could return with three points with the support of their fans.
