Ali Mansourian: Derby Clashes Are Decided by Focus and This Is Our Goal

The Students Club held a press conference before facing Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya tomorrow at the International City Stadium, within the 35th round of the Iraqi Stars League. During the conference, coach Ali Reza Mansourian and player Ali Youssef talked about the team's preparations and the importance of the match.

The conference took place in an atmosphere of focus, as the 'Elegant' seeks to improve its position in the standings and leverage the Baghdad Derby to leave a strong mark before the season's end.

The Iranian coach confirmed that facing Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya represents an important test for his team, as it combines a capital derby and a team competing for the league title. 

Mansourian said that the technical staff has prepared well for the match, and the goal is clear, which is to return with the three points to improve the Students' position in the standings. He added that the first-leg matches left some refereeing observations, but he emphasized that the focus is now entirely on the upcoming confrontation without looking back at the past.

He explained that the derby will be decided by the team that is more focused and capable of exploiting opportunities on the field, noting that the technical staff has studied the strengths and weaknesses of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and will work to exploit them during the match.

Mansourian talked about the Students' long-term project, confirming that his decision to stay for three seasons came to bring the club back to the podiums. He urged the fans to continue their support, reminding them that football is not without wins, draws, and losses, and that building a competitive team requires integrated work from the management, technical staff, and players.

Player Ali Youssef stressed that the players and technical staff feel the weight of responsibility before this derby, as it is influential in the team's path and future this season.

He said that everyone is required to focus and strive to give their best on the field, hoping that the match will be at a level befitting the name of the Students and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, and that the audience enjoys the confrontation.

He pointed out that the Baghdad Derby has a special character, and the goal is to make the Students' fans happy and to deliver a performance worthy of the club's history. He also talked about the importance of sportsmanship and mutual respect, confirming that what happened recently with Al-Zawraa fans was misunderstood, and that his relationship with everyone is based on respect and appreciation.

The Students enter the match in fifth place with 62 points, delivering a stable season that has made them one of the most bothersome teams for the leading teams. On the other hand, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya tops the standings with 77 points and seeks to restore its reputation after the loss to Al-Karma.