Al Duhail coach Christophe Galtier spoke to the media ahead of their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League Week 18 match against Al Shamal.

“It is good for us to focus on our next competitors, but before that we must focus on ourselves above all and the way we perform on the field, especially avoiding mistakes that cost us a lot in this difficult situation that we are going through. For me, the players or the fans, we must remain fully focused to change the situation.

“The recent loss that happened to us in the Al Wakrah match was painful for us, especially since the team succeeded in providing a good performance in the first half of the match and were the most dominating on the field.

“I spoke with the players after the recent loss and said that there are important things that we do on the field, and there are individual mistakes that are repeated in matches. We must be realistic on the field and have full concentration. In statistics, we noticed that the players are making a great effort, whether in training or matches, and sometimes there is a lack of focus and mistakes. Individual play wastes all the effort we make on the field, and for years nothing has happened to the team like what is happening now.

“Even for me, it has never happened to me to go through this same situation. We lack a little success in order to score goals and avoid individual mistakes that cost us goals. The question that arises is what will we do in such situations? The answer is that we must have a reaction at the personal level, which will have an impact on the general level, and we must simply rectify the mistakes.

“We did not suffer from absences or injuries. Since January, the team has been complete, but there is only the absence of player Muntari and there is Edmilson, who has not played since the start of season. I do not make injuries and absences an excuse, and the players present are doing what is required of them.

“Almoez Ali will not play in this match due to bookings. The players are accustomed to the holy month of Ramadan and we, as technical staff, have to adapt to it, we do not have any problem. We have time during the day to prepare for our work and things are going on well,” said Galtier.

Al Duhail player Ibrahim Qadir said, “We suffer from negative results in the matches we play, but certainly this matter will not last long and I have complete confidence in the ability of my teammates to get out of this situation.

“I will try to help the team and I will make every effort on the field and implement all the instructions of technical staff in order to return to the winning path.”