League loss not a factor for Olaroiu

AFC – DOHA, Al Sadd’s gut-wrenching loss to Al Gharafa in their Qatar Stars League clash last Friday will have no bearing on the Doha club when it takes on Mes Kerman of Iran in their AFC Champions League Group D match at Sheik Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Al Sadd went down to Al Gharafa four days ago in a match that decided the QSL title race and left coach Cosmin Olaroiu facing mounting criticism over the team’s poor performance in the 4-1 loss.

However, Olaroiu put on a brave face ahead of the clash with the Iranians.

“This will be a different game in a different tournament. In the last two days, I have been talking to my players about that match and I know we are not affected by that loss,” he said.

“This is a chance for us to move ahead in this tournament, a chance to create something new.”

Olaroiu’s viewpoint was endorsed by Al Sadd’s Ibrahim Maged, who stressed: “We have forgotten about our loss to Al Gharafa.

“Our aim is to satisfy our fans, which we could not do in that match. We hope to bring delight to our fans. We are playing for them.”

The Al Sadd coach was also quick to point out that Mes presented a serious threat despite the Iranian side playing on foreign soil.

“Kerman have a very good side. Their players have great fitness levels. They are tall and tough players,” the Romanian tactician said.

With both sides level on three points following one win and one loss, Mes boss Luka Bonacic admitted his team would be happy with a draw.

“It will be important not to lose this match,” Bonacic said.

“If we can draw here, then Al Sadd will be on our soil in two weeks and then that will be our chance to play in front of our fans. So it is important to at least get a draw.”

Al Sadd will at least draw confidence from the 5-0 drubbing of Al Ahli last time out and Olaroiu reiterated his desire to follow up that performance with three more points against Mes.

“We never play for a draw,” he underlined.

“It is something that just happens in football. We play to win. We enter the field hoping to win the match. We have the players to win this match.”

Mes, whose recent upturn in domestic form has seen them pull out of the relegation places in the Iran Pro League, come into the game on the back of a week-long break but Bonacic believes that will not influence Wednesday’s outcome.

“Good fitness alone will not bring success,” he said.

“You have to have skills and ability also to win football games. We know Al Sadd are a strong side and I don’t think there is any comparison between the two teams in terms of physical conditioning of the players.

“Al Sadd are a tough side. I watched their videos. They make a lot of changes that you don’t expect. It should be a good game.”