Al Rayyan head coach Vicente Moreno acknowledged the importance of the match against Al Sadd in the Qatari Football El Clásico, part of Round 9 of the Ooredoo Stars League (Doha Bank Stars League). Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he said: “I know this match is very important for our fans and for us as well, and we want to win tomorrow. It is a crucial game for everyone, and we are well aware of that. We will try to give our absolute best because we will need to present our finest performance if we want to secure a victory tomorrow. However, I have full confidence in my players; I see how hard they train every day, and I am confident that tomorrow we will deliver a very strong performance.”
He added: “When you play these big games, it’s a completely different story—it’s not like previous matches. Everything depends on tomorrow and whether we can deliver a great performance, which is the most important thing. We have to focus solely on ourselves and on putting in the best possible match performance, because that is how I believe we will have the opportunity to win. That is what matters most to me. Previous matches, points, and standings don’t count for this specific game.”
Reiterating his message to the supporters, he said: “I repeat, we know how vital this match is to our fans. We will try to win it for them, but truth be told, we will need their support, which will be essential for us to claim the victory. When we stand together—our fans and our team—we become a formidable side.”