Basem Qassem: Karbala clash is crucial as we aim for victory and three points

Al-Zawraa held a press conference today at the team's hotel in Najaf to discuss tomorrow's clash against their hosts Karbala at Najaf International Stadium, in the second round of the Iraqi Premier League.

The conference was attended by head coach Bassem Qassem and team defender Massis Jack, who spoke about the team's readiness and the goals for the upcoming match.

Coach Bassem Qassem began his remarks by emphasizing the importance of the match, stating:

*"Tomorrow's match is a turning point for us. Our draw in the first round against Al-Mina'a at home was not the result we wanted. Today, we arrived in Najaf early to prepare well, and our goal is clear: to return to Baghdad with only three points."

The veteran coach added:

*"We have great respect for Karbala. They are an organized team, having made a strong return to the league and drew with Al-Shorta on their home ground. They have outstanding young players and fight for every ball. However, Al-Zawraa must show the character of a champion, even if the match is away from our home ground."

Regarding the reasons for the draw in the last round, he explained:

*"We created many chances against Al-Mina, but luck was absent in the final touch. We have worked on the psychological and offensive aspects in the past few days. The players know the weight of responsibility, and our motto for tomorrow is to play with a fighting spirit until the last minute."

Qassem concluded:

*"The fans expect a reaction from us, and we promise them to see a different Zawraa tomorrow. We are not just looking for performance; we are looking for results. The three points will restore our confidence early."

Defender Massis Jack spoke about the team's atmosphere and the preparations of the backline for the upcoming clash.

He said:

*"The page of the Al-Mina match has been completely turned. As defenders, we bear part of the responsibility because we did not keep a clean sheet even though we did not concede goals, but we also did not help the attack sufficiently in building the play"*.

The player continued:

*"Karbala is a fast team that relies on counter-attacks. We saw their match against Al-Shorta. They have forwards who move well off the ball. Our task tomorrow is to close all spaces and help the midfield in bringing the ball out from the back."

Regarding playing in Najaf instead of Karbala, he commented:

*"The pitch doesn't matter to us. Whether we play in Najaf, Karbala, or Baghdad, the Al-Zawraa shirt is heavy. We play for the badge and the fans who support us even away from home."*

Masis concluded:

*"We promise the fans to fight for every ball. If we maintain our focus for 90 minutes, we will achieve what we want."*.

The match will take place at 6 PM Baghdad time at Najaf International Stadium, as Karabala has chosen to play there due to maintenance work at their own stadium.

Al-Zawraa aims to secure their first win following a goalless draw in the first round. Meanwhile, Karbala hopes to maintain their positive momentum after a 1-1 draw with Al-Shorta.