Al Wasl head coach, Luís Castro, stressed during the pre-match press conference for the upcoming game against Al Dhafra, scheduled for Saturday, August 23 at Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium, that the team’s victory over Baniyas in the league opener represents a major boost to continue delivering strong performances in the coming rounds.

Castro said: “We know very well that the match will be difficult. The players gave their maximum effort during last week’s training sessions, and they are ready for the game.”

He added: “Our victory in the previous match gave us extra motivation in this competition. We are confident in ourselves, and we are fully aware of the challenges we will face.”

The coach also pointed out that Al Dhafra’s attacking style requires extra caution, stating: “Al Dhafra plays with an offensive approach and pushes many players forward in midfield and attack. We must be careful against their transitions.”

He concluded: “We are excited and motivated to claim the three points.”

On his part, Al Wasl player Pedro Maliero spoke about the upcoming match, saying: “This is the team’s second game in the league, and we will approach it with the same spirit and determination to win and secure three points. We are in very good shape, and our constant goal is victory, which excites us the most.”

Regarding his goal against Baniyas as being chosen as the best goal of the opening round, Maliero expressed his delight at contributing to the team’s success, emphasizing that his main objective is to serve the group and add value on the pitch: “Having my goal against Baniyas selected as the best of the first round is a positive thing. I always enjoy helping my teammates win and making our loyal fans happy.”