Coach Hernan Crespo confirmed that the team’s preparations for their coming match versus Al Gharafa next Sunday evening are proceeding normally. The coach said in the pre-match press conference, which was held yesterday evening in the club’s press conference hall: Players are performing recovery exercises after our return from Tajikistan, and we are still waiting for the injured to return. We will face a strong team Al Gharafa next Sunday evening, and we are of that that as we will work hard to achieve victory over them.

The coach continued: We are still at the beginning of the season and our squad are almost complete. We are only missing Edmilson and Diallo, but we must be patient and deal realistically.

Crespo said: In the previous league match versus Al Arabi, we faced a fierce competitor who succeeded in tying with us in the last minute of the match and with a penalty kick. In our first match in the Champions League, we were the best on the field, but we still need improvement in finishing the attacks by the offense line.

Regarding the participation of the new team player, Coutinho, the coach said: I met the player two days ago while he was performing rehabilitation exercises, and his participation with us will be determined by the doctor, and certainly this participation will add a lot to the team.

Crespo concluded: We respect all teams and know their capabilities and strengths, but our focus is always on our team, the capabilities of our players, and how to win in the confrontations that await us.