We have to always give our best, says Al Sadd’s coach Gracia

Javi Gracia

Al Sadd’s new head coach Javi Gracia has urged his players not to show any complacency as the Wolves looked to continue their dominating unbeaten run in the QNB Stars League.The reigning champions, who take on struggling Al Sailiya today, are leaders with 28 points. They have– nine wins and a draw – with a game in hand after their match against Al Wakrah was postponed due to Covid-19 outbreak among Wakrah players and an official. Gracia ruled out any chances of complacency against Al Sailiya, who are on the bottom of the points table with only five points. “Before the game, I don’t stop to see where the position of our next opponent is in the table. The best mentality is to be demanding of ourselves, and not look at our opponent’s situation. We have to always give our best and compete with our 100%; this is the best way,” the Spaniard added. Gracia said the team got enough time to prepare for the tie after the postponement, and players’ intentions in Al Sailiya clash will be same – to give their best performance in their first match of 2022. “It’s the next step for us and we are ready to compete with our best level, and this is our mentality. We try to always be focused on the next game, and we try to do our best,” Gracia noted. He said postponement of match against Al Wakrah will not affect his team’s momentum, who have just dropped points once this season after a 3-3 draw against second-placed Al Duhail – 25 points from 11 games – in November. “I don’t think about the postponement. It happened and we have to adapt to the new schedule. We have to adapt to the new game. We will have time in the future to play this game against Al Wakrah. I don’t want to complain about these kinds of things,” the Al Sadd head coach said. Meanwhile, Al Sailiya are desperate to make a turnaround, with head coach Sami Trabelsi eyeing winter transfer period to reverse his team’s fortunes. “We will strengthen our ranks during the winter transfer period and this is an inevitable matter,” said Trabelsi.   “Al Sadd are a distinguished team but we will go into this game without any pressure and will try to perform well,” he added. “Our last place in the standings certainly increases the psychological pressure on us, but we have players with great experience and who are able to overcome this crisis.”  In other matches, Al Gharafa face Al Shamal while Qatar SC will host Al Ahli.FixturesToday:  4:10pm: Al Shamal vs Al Gharafa at Al Ahli Stadium; 6:20pm: Al Ahli vs Qatar SC at Al Ahli Stadium; 6:20pm: Al Sadd vs Al Sailiya at Qatar SC Stadium Tomorrow : 4:10pm: Al Duhail vs Al Khor at Al Arabi Stadium; 6:20pm:Al Arabi vs Al Wakrah at Al Arabi Stadium; 6:20pm: Al Rayyan vs Umm Salal at Al Gharafa Stadium