Portuguese coach Artur Jorge of Al Rayyan confirmed that his team is ready to face Al Ahli Saudi in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16, and said during the press conference held on the sidelines of this match: We faced Al Ahli in the previous round, but the situation is completely different as we were playing to collect points in the group stage and now it is the knockout stage, and we will try to win this match. We know that Al Ahli is a strong team individually and collectively, but we have a goal to continue in the tournament.
He added: We must give our best to win the match and for the team to have an advantage before playing the second leg. We will play against a strong team, but we must think about the Al Rayyan team, which has qualified for this stage for the second time in its history. We must praise the team’s effort that reached this stage, and we must think that we are among the best and we must be proud of this, and we must give our best in tomorrow’s match to achieve points.
He continued: We are preparing for this match like any match, and the team must be balanced in the next two matches against Al Ahli Saudi and Al Khor in the league, and we must think about our team and our players. We have ambition to reach a further stage in the tournament.