Montenegrin coach Željko Petrović, head coach of Al Dhafra, revealed his team’s preparations for the upcoming clash against Al Jazira, scheduled for Sunday evening at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as part of Matchweek 9 of the ADNOC Pro League.
Petrović made these remarks during the pre-match press conference held on Friday evening at the press conference hall of Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan Stadium in Madinat Zayed, attended by team captain Khalil Al Hammadi.
Petrović explained that Al Dhafra played two friendly matches during the recent break and expressed his satisfaction with the players’ performances. However, he noted that the team later faced several challenges, including the injury of Souza, the absence of Karim El Berkaoui after the Arab Cup qualifiers—describing him as a key player—as well as the suspension of Leo and Al Rabija. He also pointed out the return of Khalil Al Hammadi after a six-week absence, stressing that the captain still needs more time to regain full match fitness.
The Al Dhafra coach added that the match will be extremely difficult, but the team will continue its journey with a positive spirit as they face one of the league’s top sides. He emphasized the need for the players to be smarter than in previous matches, to fight for the club’s name, and to remain cautious to avoid giving the opponent opportunities from set pieces or unnecessary yellow and red cards.
Petrović confirmed that this is the first time the team has experienced such a difficult situation due to the absence of several players, but reassured that the rest of the squad is fully ready. He stressed that Al Dhafra will enter the match with a positive mentality and great confidence in the players.
For his part, team captain Khalil Al Hammadi said the players are determined to deliver their best performance against a strong and tough opponent, underlining the importance of fighting on the pitch to achieve a positive result.
Al Hammadi also renewed his call to Al Dhafra fans to stand behind the team and support the players, highlighting the vital role of the supporters in boosting morale and backing the team during the upcoming phase.