Al Wakrah coach Jose Murcia spoke to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 15 match against Al Markhiya.

“Our competitors are occupying the last place in the league table and this is not good for them, but it is a motivation to give their utmost, especially since they are a strong team and good technically and physically. Therefore, we must be very careful and make every effort to overcome this difficult obstacle.

“After the last match, we went through the recovery process for the players who played against Al Sadd and we quickly started preparations for the Al Markhiya match due to time constraints. Our only concern now is the three points.

“Al Wakrah are going through a good period currently and we must maintain our focus in order to remain in the competition for the top spot, especially since the difference between us and Al Sadd, the leaders, is four points. We will first try to maintain our second position while and then compete with Al Sadd for first place.

“The team missed Khaled Muneer and Mahdi Ali in the last round due to injury, and will miss Saoud Al Khater in this round due to suspension,” said Murcia.

Al Wakrah player Khaled Ali said, “There is no easy match in the league championship. Al Markhiya are one of the teams that do not give up easily and although luck has not favoured them at times, they remain a good team and facing them will not be easy.

“We were affected by the long break, but at the same time I am confident in the team’s ability to gradually return to its usual level through successive matches.

“Since my arrival at Al Wakrah, I have begun a journey of rapid adaptation within the club, thanks to everyone’s co-operation with me, starting from the management, through the technical staff, and all the way to my fellow players. I hope to provide the required addition to the team.”