Riyadh, April 15 (QNA) - Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini affirmed his team's readiness to face Japan's Vissel Kobe on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025–2026.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mancini said the match requires high concentration and great effort from all players in order to qualify for the semifinals.

He noted that Al Sadd will enter the game with high ambitions to continue their journey in the continental competition, with the technical staff working to prepare players both physically and tactically amid a congested match schedule.

Following their previous match against Al Hilal SFC, the Al Sadd coach noted the team's need for a quick recovery before playing this upcoming match, adding that facing the Japanese team will not be easy given their organization and tactical discipline.

Mancini expressed great confidence in his players' abilities and experience in such games, adding that team spirit and discipline will be decisive factors in achieving the desired result.

For his part, Al Sadd's Moroccan player Romain Saiss noted that his teammates delivered an outstanding performance in the previous match against Al Hilal SFC, which gave them a strong morale boost ahead of the upcoming game against Vissel Kobe.

The team understands the importance of this stage of the competition and looks forward to continuing their journey successfully, stressing that the AFC Champions League is significant for both the club and its fans.

Saiss said that the team's preparations for the quarterfinal match have gone well, focusing on correcting mistakes and strengthening key areas.

The match requires full concentration throughout and Al Sadd will fight to achieve a positive result that leads to the semifinals, with the finale in mind, he added. (QNA)