Fathi Al-Jabali: We respect Al-Zawraa but we came to win

Al Quwa Al Jawiya's coach Fathi Al Jebali and midfielder Saad Abdulameer spoke ahead of their match against Al Zawraa tomorrow at Karbala International Stadium in the seventh round of the Iraqi Premier League.

Fathi Al-Jabail said in his pre-match comments: "Facing Al-Zawraa is always special. It is the pinnacle of Iraqi football and carries a huge fan pressure, but this is what we love as players and coaches."

He added: "We are going through a difficult period due to the pressure of travel and the Asian tournament, and the refusal to postpone the request, but the players showed character in the last match against Karbala and we achieved our first win, which is very important for confidence."

The Falcons' coach continued: "Al-Zawraa is an organized team and currently has the strongest attack in the league. We respect them greatly, but we came to Karbala with one goal, which is to return with three points. We will play with a balanced plan, close down spaces, and try to exploit counter-attacks."

He concluded: "I trust the Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya players. We know that the small details will decide the match, and the one who makes fewer mistakes will win."

For his part, Air Force captain Saad Abdulameer said: "The Al-Zawraa match does not need motivation. All the players know what it means to the fans and to the history of both clubs."

He added: "Our start in the league has not been at the required level, with 4 draws and a loss, but our recent win against Karbala 3-2 has brought back our spirit. Now we want to continue, and the real starting point will be from the clásico."

The veteran midfielder continued: "Al-Zawraa play beautiful football and score a lot, but we also have solutions. Big matches are decided by focus and bravery on the pitch, and we are ready to fight for every ball."

He concluded: "We promise the Al Quwa Al Jawiya fans that they will see a different team tomorrow. Our goal is to make them happy and deliver a performance worthy of the Falcons."

Al Quwa Al Jawiya currently occupies a mid-table position following their first victory of the season, and they are looking to capitalize on the upcoming top match to advance in the Iraqi Premier League standings.