Lekhwiya coach Djamel Belmadi (right) with player Nam Tae-Hee during the
pre-match press conference yesterday. PICTURES: Anas Khalid

By Sports Reporter/Doha


Defending Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Lekhwiya today will be looking to build on their recent win streak when they take on Al Ahli.
Djamel Belmadi’s side has stitched three successive wins picking up a maximum of nine points to climb to fifth spot on the QSL points table.
“Three wins in a row is important for the confidence of the players. More than ever because of the difficult period that we had been experiencing before. We hadn’t panicked,” Belmadi said yesterday.
“We knew that there were different reasons for it. But to win is important, especially for a club that is used to winning. We just want to continue doing that,” the Algerian added ahead of today’s round 12 clash at Lekhwiya Stadium.
Belmadi said Ahli cannot be taken lightly. “Ahli is a really good team. They always have a good performance against strong teams. We know what we are going to be up against and it will be a tough game,” Belmadi said.
“We know that the three points will not come easy and we will have to work hard for it. We have conceded goals in our victories so it hasn’t been easy. But we have worked hard during those matches and we have to continue doing so,” he added.
The Algerian believed that his team could reduce the points deficit to Al Rayyan. “Last year more or less at the same time there was nine-point difference between Al Sadd and Lekhwiya. But we were able to overcome that,” said Belmadi.
“I am sure that the gap between us and Al Rayyan can be reduced. But I don’t want to talk about the title. Two weeks ago, people were asking me a different set of questions. So the truth of yesterday is not the truth of tomorrow. We are focussing on one game at a time and then we will see where we are in two months’ time,” he added.
Al Ahli coach Zlatko Kranjcar said not dropping points in the next round was his main goal in the coming two weeks.
“We are now entering the final part of the first phase of the championships. We have a few difficulties with some of our key players injured,” Kranjcar said yesterday.
“We now face two big teams - Lekhwiya and Al Rayyan. Both teams are in great shape. Lekhwiya have proved their prowess in the last two games.
We all know how Al Rayyan are doing this season. But we will try to do our best in these two matches and we will be focussing on not losing these two matches,” Kranjcar added.
Kranjcar said his team hasn’t been in the best of form to avail chances that have come their way.
“The only thing that is missing for Ahli is the result. We have created a lot of chances during games but we haven’t been able to convert them,” Kranjcar said.
“I am not a big fan of statistics, but in our games we have enjoyed majority possession and created more chances than the opponent but we haven’t done anything with those chances.
“If you compare this season to the last, then we had Alain Dioko who would convert these chances. But this season we haven’t been able to do so. In the last couple of games we lost points in the last minutes and some decisions from the referees haven’t also gone our way,” he explained.

Second-placed El Jaish keen
to erase ‘bad memories’
El Jaish are eager to erase the memories of losing two successive Qatar Stars League (QSL) matches when they take on Umm Salal today.
Last week Qatar SC stunned El Jaish 1-0 after the Sabri Lamouchi’s side had gone down to points leaders Al Rayyan the previous round.
“We need to stick together as team. The defeat against Al Rayyan was more difficult to take because we played well against them. We want to react in our next game and play the style of football that we are known for,” El Jaish coach Lamouchi said yesterday.
“We are coming into this game with two back to back losses. The last one we didn’t deserve to lose and at least we deserved a draw against Al Rayyan. But now we have to focus on the next match,” Lamouchi added.
“We can analyse the past but we don’t have to dwell there. We have to come back quickly and find a solution,” Lamouchi said.
“What we can control is our present. We have to just analyse what has happened and learn from it. I was disappointed against Al Rayyan because we had a good game but against Qatar, I was sad because we didn’t play our game. So both defeats are different in nature,” he added.
El Jaish (23) are 10 points behind leaders Al Rayyan (33).
Umm Salal assistant coach Farooq Koknas said El Jaish are a threat.
“El Jaish have good players, good quality strikers who have scored a lot of goals,” Koknas said.
“The game is difficult tomorrow. We have to be careful. We have to work hard in this game and we hope for a little bit of luck too,” Koknas added.
“Our team has put up a good performance so far this season. We have lost just once in the 11 games. We respect all teams but we are not afraid of anyone. We are satisfied about our players and our performance and I thank our players for the effort that they are putting in,” he added.