Portuguese coach Luis Castro, the head coach of Al Wasl, described his team’s upcoming match against Dibba as very important in a major tournament.

Castro said: “We know the size of the responsibility placed upon us, so we work hard every day to reach the best possible level.”

He continued: “It will be a difficult match against an opponent that is trying to change its negative results in recent times, but we want to win and we will fight on the pitch in order to qualify for the next round.”

For his part, Ali Saleh, captain of Al Wasl, confirmed that the President’s Cup holds a special place in everyone’s hearts, as it bears a name dear to all the people of the UAE. This, he said, makes the team more determined to deliver an honourable performance and move forward in the tournament.

He added: “It is a new journey in the President’s Cup, which enjoys a great place in the hearts of all Emiratis. It is a tournament that differs in its calculations from other competitions, as the path in it is short but requires great focus and taking it step by step.”

Ali Saleh affirmed that the team’s focus is on the upcoming match against Dibba, given the impressive performances the latter has shown recently, in addition to having distinguished players. He stressed the importance of respecting all opponents and not underestimating any match.

He concluded by saying: “We respect all the teams we play against, and we will give our utmost to achieve victory and advance to the quarter-finals.”