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Lusail Sports Club’s assistant coach Ashkan Dejagah and defender Ali Malallah at a press conference.
Lusail and Al Ahli will look to bounce back from defeats in their opening matches when they meet at Al Thumama Stadium on Friday in the Qatar Stars League.
Lusail, making their historic debut in the top flight, went down 1-0 to Al Rayyan despite putting up a commendable fight, while Al Ahli began their campaign with a 3-1 defeat against defending champions Al Sadd.
Lusail will draw confidence from their performance against Al Rayyan, particularly their improvement in the second half. Despite the narrow defeat, the newcomers showed they can compete at this level and will now look to turn that promise into points.
Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno, Iranians Omid Ebrahimi and Ali Nemati, and Argentine Franco Russo are among the experienced professionals Lusail will rely on as they seek their first positive result.
Lusail assistant coach Ashkan Dejagah said his team had prepared well and would be ready both mentally and physically. “I believe the team performed well in the previous match against Al Rayyan, despite the 1-0 loss, especially against a strong team like Al Rayyan,” he said.
“The results of the first round demonstrated the strength and close competition in the league, so we understand the importance of being fully prepared for a tough match against Al Ahli.”
Dejagah also highlighted the importance of the supporters, saying their presence in the stands could provide the players with an extra boost.
Lusail player Ali Malallah said the team was determined to improve on its opening performance. “Lusail Club’s start in the Doha Stars League wasn’t what we hoped for, but we are constantly improving and developing, as was evident during the second half of the Al Rayyan match,” he said. “We are looking forward to delivering a better performance in the upcoming Al Ahli match.”
Under new Spanish coach Borja Jimenez, Al Ahli will be keen to avoid a second successive defeat and show the quality that has raised expectations around the team. The Brigadiers can call on a number of experienced foreign players, including German Julian Draxler, Frenchman Benjamin Bourigeaud, Dutchman Michel Vlap and Moroccan Idriss Fettouhi.
With considerable attacking quality at their disposal, Al Ahli will aim to take the initiative and secure their first victory of the season.
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