Younes Ali, Al Rayyan’s coach, asserted that his team deserved the three points as a result of their performance in the match against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League. During the post-match press conference, he stated: “In the first half, Pakhtakor was the more dangerous team and created a number of opportunities. In the second half, we managed to create many chances, scored a goal, and successfully defended it to secure the three points we were aiming for. The tournament truly begins now after this victory.”
He added, “We knew we would be under pressure in the first 25 minutes, and it was difficult for us to stop Pakhtakor’s crosses in the first half. However, the game changed in the second half, and we were the better team and managed to create many chances throughout the match.”
Ali continued, “The pitch was very difficult for us, especially in the first half, and we lost the second ball in many attacks. Winning by one goal is a great result for us.”
He pointed out that all teams still have hope in the tournament, as one or two points could make a difference in the final standings.