Lopetegui: Playing in front of 55,000 Saudi fans is a motivation for Qatar

Julian Lopetegui, the Spanish coach of the Qatar national team, has raised the challenge ahead of the match against Saudi Arabia tomorrow, Saturday, in the semi-finals of the Arabian Gulf Cup "Gulf 27", confirming his team's readiness for the match.

The coaching staff utilized the short preparation period to recover the players and prepare them physically, while Lopetegui clarified that the formation options have become clear, despite injuries and the limited time before the match.

The Spanish coach revealed that Akram Afif's situation is uncertain due to illness, noting that his health condition will determine his availability to participate against Saudi Arabia.

Lopetegui confirmed that the Saudi fans will not put pressure on his players, stating that playing in front of around 55,000 supporters represents an additional incentive to deliver their best performance, both defensively and offensively.

Qatar's coach has rejected the notion that winning the AFC Asian Cup twice guarantees victory, emphasizing that history does not decide matches, and that qualification for the final will be determined by what the players deliver on the pitch.