Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini has warned his side face an even greater challenge against Japan’s Vissel Kobe in their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah as they look to build on their dramatic Round of 16 triumph.
“We have a tough match ahead of us, and it will be more difficult than facing Al Hilal,” Mancini said, underlining the scale of the task awaiting the Qatari champions.
His side are coming off an exhausting encounter that stretched to 120 minutes before sealing a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory, leaving recovery a key concern ahead of today’s clash.
“We need to recover after the great effort the players made, but we are capable of performing better and achieving victory,” Mancini added.
The Italian also explained his decision not to rotate during the previous match, citing the team’s balance and cohesion as crucial in navigating the high-pressure contest.
Defender Romain Saiss echoed his coach’s warning, describing the quarter-final as a difficult assignment for both sides.
“We played a strong match against Al Hilal and we are capable of continuing and achieving victory,” he said. “The Asian Championship is very important for the club and the fans, and we will give our best to reach the semi-finals.”
Standing in their way is a Vissel Kobe side arriving in Saudi Arabia in excellent form and close to full strength.
Head coach Michael Skibbe confirmed the return of several experienced players, providing a timely boost for the Japanese outfit.
“I’m very happy that nearly all the players are ready, especially experienced players who have played in Europe,” Skibbe said.
“They are leaders of our group and this is very important for us. Hopefully we will show that we are competitive against Al Sadd.”
The German, in his first season after replacing Takayuki Yoshida, is relishing the opportunity to test his team on the continental stage after missing out on the finals last year. He also acknowledged the strength of West Asian opposition, pointing to the pace, power and physicality that sides like Al Sadd bring.
Vissel Kobe, leaders in the J.League’s western conference, will be facing the Qatari side for the first time in the competition, setting up a compelling East versus West showdown with a semi-final place at stake.
