Doha, August 14 (QNA) - Al Sadd head coach Razvan Lucescu has expressed confidence in his team's readiness for Saturday's clash with MC Alger at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the second edition of the Al Ahrar Cup.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Romanian coach said that although the match was a friendly, it carried considerable importance and provided strong motivation for his side. He also expressed hope that his team would enjoy a successful outing.
Lucescu highlighted the quality of Al Sadd's training camp in preparation for the new season, saying it had provided the ideal opportunity to get the players fully prepared. He described the match against MC Alger as the team's final friendly before the start of the league campaign.
Meanwhile, MC Alger head coach Khaled Ben Yahia described the encounter as an important occasion for both Qatari and Algerian football. The Tunisian coach said he hoped the match would live up to the spirit of the Al Ahrar Cup by bringing together two historic clubs in a fair and competitive contest marked by sportsmanship and brotherhood.
Ben Yahia added that he hoped the friendly tournament would contribute to strengthening ties among peoples while supporting the development of football in Qatar, Algeria, the Gulf region and the wider Arab world.
Al Sadd defender Tarek Salman said the match against MC Alger would provide a strong test following the team's successful training camp ahead of the new season. He also underlined the Algerian club's stature at both the African and Arab levels.
Salman noted that Al Sadd face major challenges this season, foremost among them the battle to retain the league title and secure a fourth consecutive championship. He called on the club's supporters to continue providing their backing throughout the team's domestic and international campaigns.
For his part, MC Alger player Marouane Mehdawi expressed his team's happiness at being in Qatar to participate in the Al Ahrar Cup and said the players were looking forward to a memorable encounter with Al Sadd.
Mehdawi said he hoped the match would be an enjoyable occasion for both sets of supporters and the two brotherly nations, with sportsmanship prevailing throughout. He also described the fixture as a friendly and brotherly meeting between two major clubs.
The Al Ahrar Cup is a friendly tournament launched by Al Sadd last year. In its inaugural edition, Al Sadd defeated Moroccan visitors Wydad on penalties, winning 5-4 after the match ended 1-1 in regular time. (QNA)