Umm Salal coach Patrice Carteron spoke to the media ahead of their 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League Week 2 match against Al Shamal.

“We have completed our preparations strongly and are looking forward to a positive result despite the strength of the competitors and the high morale after their victory over Al Sadd in the first round.

“I was not surprised by the victory because I know that the Al Shamal team is strong and organized, and we played a friendly match with them during the Netherlands camp. They have strong players and we have to enter the match with strength and great focus and do our best to get the points. The team had a strong match against Al Rayyan in the first round, but luck was not on our side.

“We presented a good performance in the first round. As for us, we faced Al Rayyan and we will play Al Shamal, then Al Duhail and Al Sadd. We respect all teams and we know that every match is difficult and we will be strongly prepared to provide the best,” said Carteron.

Umm Salal player Omar Yahya said, “The team will enter the match with all its strength to achieve victory and we are capable of that. We will present a better level and results than last season. The team made a great effort in the first round against Al Rayyan and luck was not on our side. We will enter the Al Shamal match with the goal of winning. This season we are strong and all the teams have prepared greatly.

‘We faced Al Shamal in a friendly match as they are an organized team and our match with them will be strong, and we will be ready to get the three points.”