QSL side Al Wakrah are looking to bounce back after suffering a 5-0 defeat to newly-crowned QSL champions Al Rayyan. The Blue Waves now face a struggling Mesaimeer, who have confirmed their relegation to the QatarGas League.
Mauricio Larriera, the head coach of Wakrah, wants his side to learn from their mistakes in the match against Rayyan. He said, “It was a difficult game against Al Rayyan and we must learn from our mistakes moving forward.”
Al Wakrah currently sit in 10th place in the QSL and they hope to avoid relegation by making the most of the last five games.
“We consider these last five games as finals, since it is important for us to win all of them. The game against Mesaimeer is our first final and we need to prepare for it like it is our last game,” said the Uruguayan coach at the pre-match press conference.
With Mesaimeer already relegated, Larriera isn’t sure how the QSL’s bottom side will react in today’s match.
“Now we have an opponent who is difficult to understand. We don’t know how they are going to play since they have been relegated. They will be unpredictable. That’s why we need to have patience and have lots of possession,” said the Uruguayan.
He added: “Pressure is always there in football and our success depends on how we handle this pressure. We had pressure on us against Rayyan, even though we are not competing for the title we are challenging for mid table or possibly top four.”
Wakrah will be boosted by the return of two key players ahead of today’s clash.
Midfielders Rúben Amorim and Abdurahman Mohammed returned to training yesterday evening. Former Portuguese international Amorim was serving a two-match suspension after picking up a red card in round 19 against Al Gharafa.
Mohammed picked up a knock against Rayyan, however, the midfielder, who is on loan from Lekhwiya, has been deemed fit to join training.
Mesaimeer are looking to make the best of their remaining five games in order to end their season on a high.
The team managed to pull off an impressive 1-1 draw in their previous game against second-placed El Jaish.
“Tomorrow’s match against Al Wakrah is very important for us. The last match against El Jaish gave us a much-needed confidence and we will hope to replicate a similar performance,” said Rodion Gacanin, the head coach.
Mesaimeer have struggled recently with injuries, causing them problems in attack. “Our two main strikers are injured and that’s why we don’t have a centre forward at the moment,” said the Croatian.