Key Takeaways from Police Press Conference Ahead of Karbala Clash

The head coach of Tunisian club Al-Shorta, Sami Al-Trabelsi, held a press conference this evening, Saturday, ahead of the match against Karbala, scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, at Al-Qafas Stadium in Baghdad at 9 PM, as part of the first round of the Iraqi Premier League.

The team's goalkeeper and captain, Jalal Hassan, also attended the conference, where he spoke about the Green's readiness for the opening match.

Tarablsi began his remarks by saying:

"We are honored to speak before our first official match in the league. We faced Karbala in friendly matches during our preparation and we know well that they are an organized team that fights for every ball. Our respect for the opponent is great, but our goal is clear: to win."

He added: "The past period has been very important. We worked on physical and tactical aspects and tried to prepare as many players as possible. Now the time for experiments is over, and the time for results has begun. We want to start the league with three points to give us a morale boost before the upcoming challenges."

Speaking about playing at the Cage Stadium, he said: "We play on our home ground and in front of our fans, which gives us an added responsibility. The fans expect a performance worthy of the Police name, and we must translate this support into control and goals."

The Tunisian coach stated: "Karbala is a team returning to the league and will come without pressure. Therefore, we must be cautious of counterattacks and finish our attacks better. The small details are what make the difference in opening matches."

He concluded: "The ambition this season is high. We want to compete for all the trophies, and it starts tomorrow. I trust my players and their ability to deliver a good performance."

Police goalkeeper and team captain Jalal Hassan said:

"The first match always has a special flavor. The tension is present but it's positive because it pushes you to give your best. We played against Karbala before and we know they have good players who love to play on quick counter-attacks."

He added: "Our role as experienced players is to help the young ones get into the match atmosphere quickly. The most important thing for us as players is to stay focused from the first minute until the final whistle and avoid conceding any early goals that could disrupt our plans."

Speaking about his personal readiness, he said: "Thank God I am physically and mentally ready. We have trained well with the goalkeeping staff, and the goal is always to help the team and keep a clean sheet. A strong starting point is very important for us as a defense and as a complete system."

Jalal concluded: "We promise the fans that they will see a team fighting for every ball. We want to make them happy in our first appearance at home, and God willing, it will start with three points and a performance that satisfies everyone."

Police FC is aiming to capitalize on the home advantage in tomorrow's match to secure their first three points in the title defense. Meanwhile, Karbala hopes to achieve a positive result to confirm their return to the league is about survival and competition.