Al Gharafa will be determined to keep their Amir Cup title defence on track as they face Al Wakrah in Tuesday’s semifinal at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, head coach Pedro Martins said on the eve of the clash.
The defending champions, who finished fourth in the Qatar Stars League, are focused on securing a place in the final but face a confident Al Wakrah who are fresh from a commanding 3-0 quarterfinal win over Al Rayyan.
Martins highlighted the demanding nature of knockout competitions, stressing that such matches require intense concentration and are often decided by fine margins.
He also revealed concerns over injuries to key strikers Joselu, Mohammed Muntari, and Alaa El-Din Hassan, acknowledging the added impact of losing multiple attacking options, but maintained confidence in his squad’s ability to deliver in the semifinal.
Al Wakrah coach Jose Luis Sierra said reaching the semifinals is an achievement, but insisted his side has no intention of slowing down. While pleased with the dominant display against Al Rayyan, he cautioned that an even stronger performance will be required to overcome Al Gharafa.
Goalkeeper Saud Al Khater echoed that sentiment, saying the team must replicate - and improve on - their previous showing in what he expects to be a tough contest, while expressing confidence in their chances.
In the other semifinal, QSL champions Al Sadd will take on Al Duhail at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in a high-profile clash between two of Qatar’s most successful sides.
Coach Roberto Mancini said Al Sadd are ready despite limited recovery time following their quarterfinal win over Al Shamal, praising his players’ focus ahead of what he described as a physically demanding encounter.
He pointed to their attacking strength, highlighted by a 6-4 victory, but acknowledged defensive lapses and stressed the need for improvement at the back as they aim to reach the final.
Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi underlined the significance of the tie, describing it as a meeting between two teams that have dominated Qatari football over the past 15 years.
He said the Amir Cup represents their only remaining chance for silverware this season after league setbacks, and called for a near-perfect performance against a strong and experienced opponent.
Striker Almoez Ali also expressed confidence, saying the players are eager for the challenge and determined to capitalise on their chances against the league champions.
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