Giants Al Duhail, Al Rayyan eye Emir Cup glory in season Finale
DOHA, May 19, 2018 - Al Duhail will be looking to end the domestic football season with a trophy treble of their own when they take on fierce rivals Al Rayyan in the final of the Emir Cup today at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The QNB Stars League (QSL) winners have been on a roll, both on the home front and in the AFC Champions League. At the continental level, coach Djamel Belmadi's side has reached the Asian quarter-finals, while at home besides the QSL title, they are the Qatar Cup champions also.
Belmadi, the Algerian tactician, will be looking to lay his hands on the Emir Cup trophy to complete a rare triple trophy feat. “Full credit to my boys for reaching the final and the best way to finish the season will be to win the Amir Cup trophy," Belmadi said on the eve of the final yesterday.
Belmadi's team, which won the hearts of football fans with their aggressive style of play, however seemed guarded against Al Rayyan strikers. “They have very good players in the front, so we have our plan in place to take care of these good players in the Al Rayyan camp," he added Belmadi said the lack of silverware this season for Al Rayyan this season will motivate them to go the extra mile in today's final.
“We know the opponent have the same ambition - that is to win the title. Al Rayyan is a big club and a season without any title is not a good one for them … so they will be more hungry. They were very much in the race for QSL tile but they slipped and never got back," Belmadi said.
In the rival camp, Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup knows that his side has a tough task at hand but said 'nothing is impossible' and they are focused on winning their first title of the season. “We will try to give our best for the final and hopefully this time we will win the trophy. Last year, playing at the this great stadium, unfortunately, we lost through a last minute goal. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a very intense game," Laudrup said while speaking to journalists on the eve of the final.
The popular Dane wants to finish the season by winning a trophy. “Winning the title will be the fantastic ending to this season. Of course, we know it is very difficult. We are playing against the best team not only in Qatar, but in the entire Gulf region. They had a fantastic season, winning the QSL, then they beat Al Sadd to win the Qatar Cup and they have been winning in the AFC Champions League also," Laudrup said.
Laudrup said many of the Al Duhail players have been together and know each other's game inside out. “(I know) many of the players at Al Duhail, as they were with the club when I was the coach. They have been with the club for three to four years. The secret of Al Duhail success has been many players playing together for many years.
“Good players, when they are together, know exactly what they want to do and it makes it more difficult for the opponents because they know each other so well," he added. Laudrup sounded positive about Al Rayyan's chances of winning the title, saying past records show that Al Rayyan have done well against Al Duhail.
“I look at the records. Out of the 34 games Al Duhail have played so far in the season, they have won 31, three games have been drawn, and one of them was against us, a 3-3 draw at the Khalifa Stadium. We were down 2-0, but rallied to draw 2-2 and then went up 3-2 until the late goal, it was a fantastic game, so that gives me confidence for tomorrow," Laudrup said yesterday. He said his team has been playing well and remained high on confidence ahead of the winner-takes-all clash.
“In the last two games, we have played very good games, a very good display, scored goals and did not concede any goals against Al Arabi or Al Gharafa. So we are very well prepared for the final," said Laudrup. Meanwhile Al Rayyan star Rodrigo Tabata said his team has a difficult task at hand against Al Duhail.
“It will be a difficult game but I trust all my colleagues will produce their best and win the title. God Willing we will be champions. The final is a big game so we will rise to the occasion to give our best."
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