What did Inzaghi say about the upcoming match against Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite?

Simone Inzaghi, the manager of Al-Hilal, has revealed his team's readiness to face Al-Gharafa, confirming his good knowledge of the opponent. Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly stressed the players' desire to achieve victory and make the fans happy.

Al-Hilal host Al-Gharafa on Tuesday evening at the Kingdom Arena in the opening match of their campaign in the first round of the western zone of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Simone Inzaghi stated during the press conference: "The AFC Champions League Elite is a very important tournament for us, and we will work during the final training session to reach our best readiness before the start of our journey."

He added: "We know Al-Gharafa well, having faced them in the last edition, and they have largely kept their coach and players, possessing strikers with great speed."

Al-Hilal's coach said: "We will play with all our strength and intensity to achieve victory and collect our first three points. We treat each match separately, and facing Al-Gharafa is our first test in the AFC Champions League Elite."

Inzaghi has confirmed that Bouabri is ready to participate, stating: "Bouabri is ready, and we will work to make the most of all available players during the AFC Champions League Elite competitions."

The coach highlighted the difficulty of preparing for the match due to a congested schedule, explaining: "We played against Al-Taawun just 48 hours ago, but we focus on each match independently, and our goal is to achieve victory despite the short period between matches."

Kalidou Koulibaly emphasized the importance of the Asian start, stating: "The match is very important as it is the opening of the tournament, we respect Al-Gharafa, but we are looking to achieve victory and make Al-Hilal's fans happy."

The Senegalese defender spoke about the pressures, saying: "Pressure is part of football, and we are capable of dealing with it. We always strive to give our best for our fans."

Speaking about his level, Koulibaly said: "I went through a difficult period in the World Cup, but I am satisfied with what I have delivered during the current season, and I still have a lot to offer until I return to my usual level."