Autuori has faith in Rayyan youngsters

AFC – DOHA, Al Rayyan host Zob Ahan in Group D of the 2011 AFC Champions League with coach Paulo Autuori hindered by injuries and suspension.

The Al Rayyan boss will be forced to field an inexperienced side against last season’s finalists with influential midfielder Daniel Goumo and reliable defender Hamid Ismael suspended, while Younus Ali and Mohammed Al Obaidly are ruled out with injuries picked up in domestic action.

“Since we’ve started this (AFC Champions League) campaign, we have been forced to play with a young team. When you play with a young side, it is like you are taking a big risk,” said Autuori.

“Our circumstances are quite difficult. We have suspensions, injuries and young replacements. It won’t be easy.”

However, the Brazilian is hopeful his youthful side can spring a surprise against the Iranians and move off the bottom of the table.

“But these young players are improving. That’s very encouraging,” he added.

“Everybody knows that Al Rayyan’s policy is to build a strong team. We are building a team with young players. So you will see young players in action tomorrow.

“The average age on the bench is 19 years. You may not know this but everybody here knows that we have a young group of players. There is no mystery in my statement. I say what is there to be said. We are relying on the enthusiasm of our young players to beat a strong side like Zob Ahan.”

Zob Ahan coach Mansour Ebrahimzadeh, meanwhile, is keen to extend his side’s unbeaten start to this year’s tournament as he tries to replicate last year’s thrilling run to the final.

“My players know the importance of this match,” he said.

“We have done our homework. We’ve watched their games on DVDs. We want to achieve what we did last year. We want to go and win this tournament and to do that, we have to top our group and qualify for the knockout stages.”

Skipper Mohammed Salsali reinforced his boss’ opinion.

“For us, three points are important,” he added.

“We know they have strong players up front but we have strong defenders. We have allowed very few goals in our last many games.

“Al Rayyan are a strong side on home soil and we are aware of that fact. They also have good foreign players.”

When asked if dusty weather conditions enveloping Qatar for the last few days would affect his team’s performance, Ebrahimzadeh replied: “We are not worried about that at all.

“My players, who are thorough professionals, don’t pay attention to these things. We have played football in all conditions.”

Ebrahimzadeh also will not be lulled into a false sense of security by their youthful opponents.

“They have played a lot of games in AFC Champions League. We have played a lot of football to ignore that aspect,” he concluded.

“They may be at the bottom of the group but they are better than that.”