Expo Stars League/ Al Gharafa Eye Second Place, Al Shamal Seek Best Result

Doha: Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins, and Al Shamal coach Poya Asbaghi spoke to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 22 match, slated for Sunday. "The positive thing is that there are no injuries and that all players are in good condition," coach Pedro Martins said. "Al Shamal showed a very good level this season. For our part, we seek to finish the competition in second place and we know that we have no choice but to win the three points. We must focus on our performance only in this match and do our duty to the fullest against a very organized team that has good players and is under a good coach." he added. "Of course, it will be a difficult game and we must focus on our match only and provide what is required of us without looking at any other results because we do not have control over the results of the other matches or their course. What we do have is control over the match we are playing and we must achieve victory in the Al Shamal match and wait for what the results of t he other matches will bring," said Martins. For his part, coach Poya Asbaghi said: "A very difficult match awaits us against a good team that has players at the highest level and they will fight and do everything to win to try to get second place." He added: "We realize that the match will be difficult, but we will do our best and we will play in order to achieve victory, get three points, and end the season in a distinguished manner, and in the best possible position in the league table." "There was not much time after the last Al Sadd match in the 21st round. The gap was only three days during which the technical staff tried to prepare for the Al Gharafa match after a quick recovery process," said Asbaghi. Source: Qatar News Agency