DOHA : Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini said his side are braced for a difficult test against Iran’s Tractor Sazi but are fully focused on improving their position in the AFC Champions League when the teams meet in the group stage.
Tractor sit second in the group standings, while Al Sadd face the penultimate round needing a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
“Facing Tractor will be difficult. They are second in the group, but we are preparing well for the match,” Mancini said at a pre-match news conference.
“Our position in the standings is not suitable for us, so we will try in this penultimate match and in the final game to maintain our chances in this tournament, whatever they may be,” the Italian coach added.
Mancini said domestic success has not distracted the team from their continental ambitions.
“Yes, we are leading the league, but our full focus now is on the continental championship and the match against the Iranian team,” he said. “We are not in a good position in the continental table, but we hope to continue our continental victories as we are doing in the domestic competition.”
He added that playing at home could prove decisive. “Tractor are a strong team, but our aim is to achieve a good result and deliver a strong performance, especially since the match is on our home ground and in front of our fans,” Mancini said.
