Caixinha talks up Gharafa’s fighting qualities.
 
Eighth place Al Gharafa take on relegation threatened Al Kharitiyat in a Qatar Stars League match in the Al Gharafa stadium on Saturday.
 
The home side Al Gharafa have thirty points after their 4-0 demolition of Al Sailiya last week. They will be hoping to continue this form against struggling Kharitiyat.
 
Al Gharafa’s Head Coach, Pedro Caixinha was quick to point out the different motivations of the two teams at Thursday’s press conference. “In this game both teams have different situations. We are trying to achieve glory and Kharitiyat is trying to stay in the league. We will prepare for the lower block and try not to lose the ball in different areas of the pitch,” said the Portuguese tactician.
 
Al Gharafa have recently introduced a rougher style of play and according to their Pro Zone match analysis they are going in with more tackles. Speaking about this style of play Caixinha said, “We are doing more tackles because we are becoming fighters. The most important thing is that everyone in the team is fighting. We have a very good attack we have almost the same number of goals as Al Rayyan.”
 
“We have twelve points to play from four games. If we work hard I believe we can win our remaining games,” added the 45-year-old highlighting the importance of the remaining games.


 
Al Kharitiyat are only one-point clear of the drop zone with twenty-two points, which leaves them in twelfth place. After last week’s loss to Al Sadd they are need of points in order to remain in the league.
 
Amar Osim, head coach of Al Kharitiyat, wants to let everyone know that this game is top priority for them,”At this moment, this is the game of the season for us. From now until the end of the season the matches we play are more important as we approach the end.”
 
“They are good team to watch they have many 1-0 and 0-0 matches. They play very tactical games they have a completely different style and we need to adapt,” added the Bosnian tactician.
 
Al Kharitiyat will be strengthened by the recent return of their Senegalese midfielder Issiar Dia. Osim is glad by the way he has found his way back into the side, “Dia is back for us and he wasn’t bad in the last 2 games. We hope for his improvement in him we have a player that can pass one or two players and in football you need that.”