Georgios Donis, the head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, highlighted the difficulty of facing Qatar in the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup (Khaleeji 27).
The Saudi Arabia national team is preparing to face Qatar tomorrow, Saturday, in the semi-final.
The Saudi Arabia head coach said at the press conference: "We are continuing our preparations for tomorrow's match, which represents an important encounter against a strong opponent with significant experience, along with experienced players and a coach. We hope to deliver a good performance and play with high spirit."
He added, "Tomorrow's match differs from previous encounters because it is played under a knockout format. We aim to present an outstanding level and achieve victory."
He announced, "Zakaria Hawsawi will not be with us for tomorrow's match. We have made decisions regarding players who are playing heavily, to help the rest of the squad. Upcoming matches are knockout games and differ from the group stage."
He clarified, "We will see whether Hassan Tambakti can play in tomorrow's match or not, and we will make the appropriate decisions."
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He continued, "Every opponent has advantages, and we analyze all aspects. Every coach has his own style and method. We must maintain a high level of focus, as well as concentrate on the opponent's strengths. It is important to play in our style. When we play with high quality and confidence, we will be able to make correct decisions."
He went on, "In past matches, it was important to keep clean sheets more effectively. The most crucial thing is to continue working in the same manner and maintain great focus against Qatar, who is a strong opponent. We must persist with the same style and approach, both defensively and offensively, with high concentration."
He explained, "When I started training the national team in April, I began improving and analyzing all matters gradually. Every coach has his own style, and we did not have sufficient time. We are trying to build a team that controls the ball and makes the right decisions. We will proceed step by step to create a strong team, and the most important thing is to maintain the same confidence."
He concluded, "Pressure during the match is normal for the coach and the players. When players believe in themselves, they will be ready for any situation or circumstance on the pitch. The most important thing is to adapt to these conditions, which is clear to the players. We must prepare the national team well to achieve distinctive results, and we want to play with high confidence, away from pressures."
The Saudi Arabia national team topped Group A with 9 points, achieving a perfect record.
