Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Newly appointed Al Hilal coach Giorgios Donis is determined to leave Doha with a win in his first match in charge of the 2014 AFC Champions League runners-up ahead of their Group C meeting on Wednesday against former winners Al Sadd of Qatar.
Former Greece international Donis took over the helm of the two-time continental champions last week following the departure of Romanian Laurentiu Reghecampf, and the former APOEL and AEK Athens coach will look to build on their 3-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv.
Donis will, however, be without Mohammed Al Shalhoub, Nawaf Al Abid and Salem Al Dawsari through injury, while striker Nassir Al Shamrani remains suspended.
“We have studied Al Sadd very well and we know a lot of things about them. The AFC Champions League is important for Al Hilal and although I only took charge of the team for a few days, I know a lot of things about the team as well,” said Al Hilal coach Donis, who observed Al Hilal’s 2-0 win over Narjan at the weekend in the Saudi Pro League.
“Our ambition is to get back to Riyadh with a victory especially because we have what it takes to get a positive result. I have seen many of Al Hilal’s matches and I’m confident that the players will have a good performance.”
Al Sadd, meanwhile, took a point from their visit to Ahwaz last week where they were hosted by Foolad Khouzestan, despite the Iranian champions playing with 10 men for the final 20 minutes after Mehdi Badrloo was sent off.
However Lhoussaine Ammouta’s team did lose 1-0 at the hands of rivals Lekhwiya in the Qatar Stars League over the weekend and the Moroccan coach will also be without defender Mohammed Kasola who will miss the visit of Al Hilal through suspension after he was sent-off in the play-off match against Emirati club Al Wahda.
“We are playing against the runners-up of the competition who have good qualities especially in the attack. The small details will settle the match, and although Al Hilal miss some key players, they have good replacements,” said Al Sadd coach Ammouta.
“We will also miss Mohammed Kasola but this doesn’t affect us as we have good players as well.
“I hope that the players will concentrate on the match which will not be easy and we can’t afford to make any mistakes in it.”