Doha: Al Gharafa head coach Pedro Martins expressed his determination to secure a win in tomorrow's match against Umm Salal, which will be held at Thani bin Jassim Stadium as part of Week 17 of the Ooredoo Stars League.

According to Qatar News Agency, speaking at the pre-match press conference, Martins said, "We were not happy after losing the last match against Al Sadd, but I see the reaction from the players fighting and working for the next match, and we need a reaction because it is an important match for us." He added, "I see Umm Salal as a fighting team even in view of the numerical shortage in their last match against Qatar SC. They fought and deserved the draw because they were cohesive and were fighting for a good result. We do not expect the match to be easy because I saw them in their last matches. It was a cohesive team, and we have to be serious and focused, get rid of the mistakes we made in the last match, and play with our identity."

On the other hand, Umm Salal head coach Patrice Beaumelle acknowledged the difficulty of the task against a strong opponent also seeking redemption. "Our primary goal is to achieve victory and secure the three points, considering it a crucial turning point for the team in the league journey," Beaumelle said.

He praised his team's performance, which managed to bounce back in the game despite difficult circumstances, including conceding two penalty goals and the expulsion of player Marwan Louadni. "Despite these challenges, the team showed strong determination and scored the equalizer, reflecting the fighting spirit of the players and their insistence on achieving a positive result," Beaumelle added.

Al Gharafa currently sits in third place with 34 points, while Umm Salal occupies the eleventh position with 15 points.