Rodgers: Al Qadsiah's mentality does not settle for anything less than victory

Brendan Rodgers, the head coach of Al Qadsiah, expressed his dissatisfaction with the 1-1 draw against Pakhtakor in the match that took place on Monday in Tashkent, as part of the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026-2027.

Brendan Rodgers stated after the match that his team played well, but he felt disappointed due to the awarding of a penalty in the closing minutes, asserting that he did not see the incident as deserving of a foul in the first place.

Al Qadsiah's coach praised his players' physical and technical performance, despite playing a match last Friday evening and the accompanying fatigue from travel and a busy schedule. He noted that the team faced a strong and organized opponent.

Rodgers explained that Pakhtakor intensified their attacks in the closing minutes, sending in numerous crosses as they had nothing to lose, while Al Qadsiah were ahead until the final moments, resulting in a draw for both teams.

Al Qadsiah's coach emphasized that his team is used to competing for victory and will not settle for anything less than three points. However, he considered collecting four points in the first two rounds a positive and competitive experience, allowing the players to undergo strong tests at the continental level.