Al Sadd: Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez expressed strong confidence in his team's ability to overcome Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final match on Sunday, at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

According to Qatar News Agency, Sanchez stated in a pre-match press conference that they are happy to be among the continent's top eight clubs, adding that they have prepared well and hope to continue their strong presence in this tournament and advance deep into the knockout rounds.

He emphasized that Al Sadd is fully focused on tomorrow's match with the ambition of reaching the semi-finals while maintaining their positive momentum, following their recent Qatar Stars League title victory.

Sanchez acknowledged that the encounter will be challenging, but he stressed that Al Sadd has proven its strength this season, delivering outstanding performances both domestically and continentally. He expressed hope that the team will continue showcasing its winning mentality in high-stakes matches.

Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos voiced his optimism about progressing beyond the quarter-finals and keeping the club's hopes alive for a third continental title.

Al Haydos added that they aim for a positive result tomorrow, adding that this will be a tough battle, but their team is experiencing a strong upward trend, hoping to maintain this momentum and deliver the title that Al Sadd's fans have long awaited. Their focus is entirely on tomorrow's match, and from there, they will assess their approach to the semi-finals.

Al Sadd advanced to the quarter-finals after eliminating UAE's Al Wasl with a 4-2 aggregate victory in the Round of 16, setting up their showdown with Kawasaki Frontale.

Notably, this will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the competition. Kawasaki Frontale is facing its first challenge against a Qatari club, while Al Sadd is competing against a Japanese team for the first time in its Asian tournament history.