MATCH ONE
KUWAIT V OMAN
Kuwait: Juan Pizzi, head coach.
Introduction
We are feeling positive going into the game because we have good preparations at our camp in Qatar. It will be a very difficult competition but we are happy with how we have prepared.
Is the team feeling extra pressure because they are playing at home?
No. We are feeling very positive. There is no pressure on the players who have gone through some tough training and preparations to be ready. We need the support of the fans to be behind us.
You have conceded 11 goals in six World Cup qualifying games so is defence a problem?
We have prepared for both defence and offence in preparing for this tournament. All situations have been worked on so that we will be ready for the competition.
It is 25 years since Kuwait beat Oman, so is this on your mind going into the game?
No, statistics are history and in the past and we don’t care. We are just focused on the first game and, again, we need the support of the fans behind us to make a difference.
You played well against Jordan (last game), so can Kuwait win the tournament?
The preparation has been really excellent. But we have to now perform in the games. The players must be at their maximum level so that Kuwait can perform at our best to be in with a chance.
Oman: Rasheed Jabir, head coach (RJ); Mohammed Al-Musallami, captain
Introduction
RJ: We have had good preparations – we are ready for this competition and have been working hard since our World Cup qualifiers last month. All the teams are here to compete for the competition so it will be very tough.
MM: We know that the opening game is very difficult and a very different situation to our last game in the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup (Oman won 4-0). It will be very different as they (Kuwait) have improved and will be a tough team to play in front of their own fans.
Oman beat Kuwait 4-0 in the World Cup qualifiers, so does this make it easier you?
RJ: It is a different match this time. Kuwait have had a good preparation and it is the opening game so it will be difficult and especially in front of their fans.
You are playing Kuwait at home, what’s your message for Oman fans?
RJ: The pressure is always there and we can cope with it. We have ambition to get good results in this competition. This match against Kuwait is the first step which is very important and we will learn from any mistakes made to perform better and hopefully win.
You reached the Khaleeji Zain final last time (losing to Iraq) so is there extra pressure to do well this time?
RJ: We learned from past experiences that the Khaleeji has surprise results, and there is always pressure from playing in such a big competition.
Is the timing perfect for Oman as there has been some bad results for other teams lately?
RJ: Except for Iraq, not everyone got the results they wanted in the latest World Cup qualifiers. If we reach the final and if we play all the games, it is five matches. The Arabian Gulf has different situations for all of the teams here, with all of us knowing that the results are very important to change the minds of the media and fans.
What’s the goal of Oman for this tournament?
RJ: We are here to compete and qualify through the group. But the first step is against Kuwait so we are not looking beyond that. We have to be prepared mentally as well as physically for this competition.
Are the players feeling the pressure?
MM: The pressure is always there, but more so on the World Cup qualifiers than this tournament, in my opinion. We can deal with it. Our goal is to give everything and try every day to improve.
JR: I try to take the pressure away from the players and let them enjoy the atmosphere. Off the pitch we try to keep them positive. It is the first competition for some of our players so we have to look after them. I was in the same position more than 22 years ago so I know how to deal with it.
MATCH TWO
QATAR V UAE
Qatar: Luis Garcia, head coach, (LG); Assim Madibo, captain (AM)
Introduction
LG: I am so happy to work with the team despite a very short time for preparation. I feel a lot of passion for my team and I have a very good impression going into this first match against the UAE.
How high are your hopes for the tournament?
LG: We should concentrate on the first opening match. Always they are difficult. I am happy to have a very young team here full of ambition and I hope we can realise the ambition of the team here in Kuwait.
How important is this tournament for the fans?
LG: I know the importance of this championship for the people of Qatar, and we all need to realise the importance of this championship for the fans.
AM: We are a young team with high spirits. This was clear during the training sessions we have had. We want to get the right performance in the first match for the good of the team moving on through the tournament so the fans can get behind us.
The last results have not been good, including a 5-0 defeat to UAE, so is this a problem?
It is easy for me because I have players with professional mentality. Yes, we have had negative results from the previous matches, but I am sure the players will make up for it.
Have you been working on the defence?
I have seen the level of the national team of Qatar and where we needed work. I have concentrated on the defensive aspects. I have players with a positive mentality and I am sure that we will realise positive results in the matches of the Gulf Cup.
Does winning the Asian Cup put more pressure on your team?
I will deal with this tournament match-by-match. I know this team I am leading is the champion of Asian Cup, so I am confident we can make good results for this cup.
The team has conceded 17 goals in World Cup qualifiers so is it an individual or team issue?
I always try to analyse the problems in my time in a collective aspect and try to be a better team all round.
Why is Akram Afif not here yet with the team?
Akram is not ready because he has some problem in his personal life. We will support him and we respect that when he is ready he will join us.
UAE: Paulo Bento, head coach (PB); Khalid Eissa, captain (KE)
Introduction
PB: A difficult preparation due to the lack of time to prepare the players and the strategy. Some of the players played their last league game on the 17th so we just met all the players yesterday and then had to travel. It is our role and obligation to try and do our best even in these kinds of conditions. To bring the best information on the opponent and prepare the strategy in two days.
Training yesterday was important of course. Today, we can’t make many things because it is the day before the game. We will try our best to perform in the best possible way to make a good game.
KE: I would like to thank Kuwait for the hospitality. I have beautiful memories of this country. It will be an example of hospitality for hosting the Gulf Cup. I agree with the head coach, we have had a very tight schedule but it will not prevent us from being ready for the opening match against Qatar. The opening match gives the impression whether this national team is on the right track. So, we stick to the instructions of the head coach and the administration and give the best impression of the team as possible.
Will the absence of Qatar’s Akram Afif for the game change your preparations?
PB: We try to prepare the strategy looking at different possibilities, and we think always that the opponent will play with the best players, and of course Afif is one of their best. We know how influential he is in their style of play, especially in the offensive process. But if he doesn’t play, it will not be a different game or become easier because their coach will find other solutions. So, we focus on our strategy and our team only.
Do the two previous wins over Qatar make this an easier game for you?
PB: In the few times we were all together, one of the important aspects as the group was to give the information to the players. Not just tactical aspects, but especially in the mental preparation.
We should not think too much about the two previous games. Of course, we analysed the games and we are going to prepare our strategy from those games. They will do the same. But don’t think about the result. Just because we won two times in the qualifiers doesn’t mean we will win again or have an easy game. It’s another game, another context, another competition so we must focus on what we must do tomorrow.
You have a good defence, and a strong World Cup campaign so far. Have you come here to win, or is the priority to give experience to young players?
PB: Since the beginning it was clear for everybody inside the federation that the most important goal is to qualify for the World Cup. But when we come to this kind of competition and we know how important it is for all the countries, of course, the goal is to compete as well as possible. We will try to do as much as we can. This is a difficult competition because we are going to play again in less than 72 hours. It is difficult to prepare and to have all the players recovered in the proper way (between games). We should go step-by-step and game-by-game. We are just thinking tomorrow’s game and then prepare for the second game.
Everyone is saying that UAE is a favourite, do you feel that UAE is favourite?
PB: Did you ask them why they consider us as favourite? We are not the favourite. We are one of the teams that want to make the best for the country. Show a good organisation as a team. That’s it. We will try to keep competing in the proper way and in a good spirit.
