Yahya Al Ghassani

Shabab Al Ahli player Yahya Al Ghassani, underscored the difficulty of the anticipated clash against Al Nasr. He highlighted that the match possess a unique character and can never be underestimated, regardless of the circumstances.
“We are fully aware that facing Al Nasr will be a tough challenge,” Al Ghassani said. “As players, we are required to maintain consistency in our performance under all conditions. Our priority at this stage is to deliver the required results, secure the three points, and continue our run of positive outcomes.”

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the prematch press conference, our head coach Paulo Sousa, emphasized the necessity of facing Al Nasr with the highest levels of discipline and seriousness in their upcoming Matchweek 24 fixture of the ADNOC Pro League. He noted that the technical staff is currently prioritizing player recovery, to ensure the squad reaches full readiness for the match.
Sousa urged his players to demonstrate creativity and decisiveness on the pitch. He stressed that elevating individual performance and channeling it to serve the “collective team identity” is the key to maintaining their competitive edge and securing victories.
He said “Our goal is to grow and reach a high level of maturity, where every player gives their absolute best in every action throughout the entire game, our objective is to win, and we will do everything within our power to achieve that end.”

Hamad Al Maqbali

On his part, player Hamad Al Maqbali attributed the team’s arrival at this stage to the determination of the players and the tremendous work done by the coaching staff and club management in terms of physical and mental preparation.
He said “We will fight to go as far as possible. We are well aware of the circumstances and the fixture congestion. We utilized yesterday for recovery, and today we return to the pitch to put on the final touches and analyze the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses to enter the match fully prepared,”
He concluded with confidence: “My constant focus is on helping my team secure the win. I am confident in my abilities if the match goes to a penalty shootout, but as a team, we prefer and aim to settle the match in regular time, despite fully recognizing the strength of our opponent”.

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the prematch press conference our Head Coach Paulo Sousa expressed his immense pride and honor in representing the United Arab Emirates at this advanced stage of the tournament, praising the exceptional efforts made by the players to reach the semi-finals.
He said “Being among the top four teams in AFC champions league elites is a great source of pride for us, but our journey must not stop here. We are here to continue competing and take another step towards the title,”.
He added: “We will face a strong and distinct opponent that possesses high attacking efficiency and highly developed individual players, alongside tactical discipline in defense and strength on the counter-attack. This is a massive challenge for us. We must create problems for them and pose a threat to their goal. We need intense focus and great inspiration to create chances and translate them into goals to secure our qualification.

Shabab Al Ahli have qualified for the semi-finals

Shabab Al Ahli have qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite after a 3–2 victory over Thailand’s Buriram United.

The opening goal came as an own goal by a Buriram player, while Saeed Ezzat and Renan Victor added the second and third goals for Shabab Al Ahli.

Waleed Abbas

For his part, Waleed Abbas, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, confirmed the team’s readiness for the match, highlighting the strength of the opponent as the champion of their domestic league.

He said:
“We are facing a strong match between two quality teams, and our goal is to reach the semi-finals. The team is fully prepared, and we are determined to achieve our objective.”

Abbas concluded by emphasizing their full respect for the Thai side, noting that the levels are very close at this stage of the competition, and that the match will require maximum focus and effort to secure qualification.

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the rematch press conference our head coach Paulo Sousa, expressed his satisfaction with the team reaching this advanced stage of the competition, ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Thailand’s Buriram United, he said:
“We look forward to continuing to deliver what is expected of us, by working with the same commitment that has defined the team in recent years.”

Sousa added that all matches at this stage are highly balanced, stressing that the upcoming encounter will be no exception:
“The opponent is a developed team that has won several titles in their country in recent years. They are well-organized defensively, consistent, and effective offensively—particularly from set-pieces and corners. They deserve to be at this stage.”

He continued:
“We must be at the highest level of concentration, show courage, and express our attacking identity as we always do, while being efficient in converting our chances. Our team includes young talents supported by the club’s management, and we have eliminated strong teams along the way. We aim to go as far as possible in the competition and achieve the best results.”

Eid Khamis

Our player Eid Khamis highlighted the difficulty of the match, stressing that the knockout format increases its importance, leaving no room for error.

He said: It won’t be an easy match. We know that losing means elimination, so we will fight to qualify for the next round. We are ready and determined to give our best.”

Khamis concluded by reaffirming the team’s respect for their opponent, whom they previously faced in the competition, while expressing confidence in Shabab Al ahli’s ability to achieve a positive result.

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the premacth press conference our head coach Paulo Sousa, emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against Iran’s Tractor in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Sousa said: “We faced Tractor earlier in the competition. We need maximum concentration throughout the match. Our goal is to impose our style of play, dominate possession in the opponent’s half, and maintain strong defensive organization.”

He added that the tight match schedule has posed a major challenge in preparing the team, noting that they are fully aware of Tractor’s strengths. He stressed that the technical staff is focusing on the players available to deliver the best possible performance and achieve the desired result.

Kuan Santos

Our player Kuan Santos, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, confirmed the team’s readiness for the match, noting that it brings together two major teams in an important competition.

He said: “We have completed our preparations well, and we will enter the match with a winning mentality and in the best possible condition.”

Santos also expressed his happiness working with the technical staff, praising their significant role in developing his performance. He confirmed his readiness to play in any position assigned by the coach and his commitment to giving his best in all matches.

Paulo Sousa

Paulo Sousa, head coach of Shabab Al Ahli, confirmed that his team is preparing for a tough clash against Al Ain in the Matchweek 22 of the ADNOC Pro League. He stressed his full respect for the opponent, adding that his team will enter the match with a winning mentality, free from any external pressure.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sousa said: “Our desire to win must always be greater than any pressure. We work daily on implementing our ideas on the pitch. Since my first day with the team, my goal has been to build a clear identity and a culture based on winning, and this is what we continuously strive to establish.”

The coach pointed out that the absence of some key players represents both a challenge and an opportunity at the same time. He explained that the technical staff is working on finding alternative solutions and giving other players the chance to prove their abilities, especially considering the team’s capacity to overcome difficulties throughout the season and maintain the attacking effectiveness needed to win matches.

Renan Victor

Our player Renan Victor, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, highlighted the difficulty of the match, confirmed that Al Jazira is a technically strong team. However, he expressed confidence in Shabab Al Ahli’s ability to deliver their best performance, pointing out that the team is mentally and tactically ready to achieve the desired result.

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the prematch press conference, our head coach Paulo Sousa, expressed his happiness at returning to the league as his team prepared to face Al Jazira on Saturday at Rashid Stadium, in matchweek 21 of the ADNOC Pro League. He emphasized the importance of making a strong comeback at this crucial stage of the season.

Sousa stated that returning to competition comes at a very important time that demands the highest levels of focus. He noted that all players are in an excellent mental state and have shown clear development from a competitive standpoint.

He added that the team’s identity is based on attacking football, with an emphasis on playing in the opponent’s half and creating as many chances as possible, stressing that efficiency in front of goal will be the key to securing victory and earning all three points.

Shabab Al Ahli with red kits against Al Jazira

The technical meeting for the Semifinals of the UAE president’s Cup match between Shabab Al Ahli and Al Jazira was held today, and Shabab Al Ahli will wear their full red kit, while Al Jazira will play in white.
Shabab Alahli fans can use the gates 7-8 Cat 2, 10 in Cat 1 and the VIP premium B, doors will open 2 hours before the kickoff.

Federico Cartabia

Our player Federico Cartabia, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, stating that the team will fight to maintain its winning streak and strengthen its chances of competing for the league title.

He said:
“We know that every match in the league is extremely difficult, so we will approach the game against Dibba with the seriousness it deserves. We will go into the match aiming to win and secure the three points, especially as the season is approaching its final stage. Continuing our winning run depends only on us as we aim to keep moving forward toward the title.”

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the prematch press conference, our head coach Paulo Sousa, confirmed that his team is preparing with great focus for the upcoming match against Dibba in the matchweek 20 of the UAE Pro League.

Sousa explained that Dibba possesses strong duos, aggressive play, and the ability to execute counterattacks effectively, which requires the highest level of concentration from the players, in addition to a strong winning mentality in order to maintain the team’s football identity on the pitch.

The coach added that the speed of play and executing the team’s style are essential to avoid difficulties during the match, stating:
“Our biggest opponent starts from our own mentality and mindset, so we must be at our very best.”

Sousa also pointed out that the result of the previous match against Dibba cannot be relied upon, stressing that the upcoming encounter will be completely different. He noted that achieving victory requires humility, hard work, and showing the desire to win at every moment of the match, while maintaining full respect for the opponent and striving to create chances and score more goals than the opponent.

Shabab Al Ahli wins Kalba 5–1

Shabab Al Ahli wins Kalba 5–1 in Matchweek 19 of the ADNOC Pro League, raising its tally to 46 points.

Yuri Cesar scored two goals and one goal for Mohammed Juma Al Mansoori, Kuan Santos, and Sardar Azmoun.

Kuan Santos

Meanwhile, Shabab Al Ahli player Kuan Santos stated that the match against Kalba will not be easy, highlighting the strength of the opponent and the quality players they possess.

Santos said: “All the matches we have played against Kalba required strong mentality and high concentration from the beginning until the end. We always work to maintain a high level of focus and passion to achieve our main objective, which is to collect the points”.

He also thanked the fans for their continued support, noting that their presence in the last match was remarkable and influential, in addition to the encouraging messages the team received during difficult moments. He added that this support gives the players extra motivation to deliver their best performance, stressing that the players understand the importance of the match and will strive to achieve a positive result

Paulo Sousa

Speaking at the prematch press conference, Shabab Alahli head coach Paulo Sousa, confirmed that the team is preparing for a tough match against Kalba, describing the opponent as a strong. He noted that the game will require great effort both physically and technically, as well as delivering the best version of the team and its identity on the pitch.

Sousa explained that the team aims to control the match while adopting an attacking approach and creating chances from different areas of the field. He stressed that the players need intensity, fitness, and speed, along with decisiveness and efficiency in front of goal in order to secure the match points.

The Shabab Al Ahli coach added that maintaining the same level throughout an entire season is not easy. However, he emphasized that the team has managed to make the difference and maintain its competitiveness despite the challenges of the season, noting that the ultimate goal in the long league marathon is to reach the top of the table by continuing to collect points.

At the end, Sousa thanked the club’s fans for their continuous support, stating that their strong presence and encouragement from the stands give the players great motivation to achieve their goals. He also expressed his confidence that they will continue supporting the team in the upcoming match.

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Mohammed Juma Al Mansoori

Our player Mohammed Juma Al Mansoori, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, emphasized the importance of the upcoming match. He noted that the game brings together two major teams, each seeking to secure points to improve their position in the standings.

Paulo Sousa

Paulo Sousa, head coach of Shabab Al Ahli, described the return to competition as a great moment. Speaking during the pre-match press conference ahead of the team’s match against Al Wahda, he said that the upcoming encounter represents one of the biggest challenges for his side, given the strength of the opponent and the high technical quality of their players.

The coach explained that the match will require Shabab Al Ahli players to deliver their best possible performance both individually and collectively, stressing that the team’s primary objective is to secure victory and claim all three points.

He added:
“We have great confidence in the team, and we realize that this stage of the season represents crucial moments. I believe everyone will be ready for this challenge, especially our fans, whose support we look forward to as we aim to achieve a win that may be difficult, but is certainly very important.”

Sultan Adel

Our player, Sultan Adel, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, emphasized the great importance of the upcoming match against Al Wasl in the 18th matchweek of the ADNOC Pro League, confirming that the team has completed its preparations and is well-prepared for the encounter.

Sultan Adel explained that they will exert every possible effort to achieve victory and secure the points, reiterating their respect for all opponents in the various competitions.

Paulo Sousa

Speaking ath the pre-match press conference, our head coach, Paulo Sousa, described the upcoming match against Al Wasl in the 18th matchweek of the ADNOC Pro League as a difficult game that requires more focus. He emphasized that it’s an emotionally charged match where small details can make all the difference.

He said, “We must be prepared and confident in our players. With this confidence, we want to face the match and our opponents with a winning mentality, playing aggressively and constantly looking to create opportunities and score goals to achieve the victory.”

Paulo Sousa addressed the fans, saying, “My sincere thanks and appreciation to our loyal fans, especially those who attended Al Dhafra match for their support. I hope to see even larger crowds at the next match because we need them. Together we are stronger, and with their support, we will overcome all obstacles.”

Alfursan to the Round of 16

The match ends with Al Ahli Saudi winning 4–3 against Shabab Al Ahli in the final matcheek of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.
Shabab Al Ahli’s goals scored by Breno Cascardo (two goals) and Mohammed Juma Al Mansoori.

Yahya Al Ghassani

On the other hand our player Yahya Al Ghassani, who accompanied the coach at the press conference, thanked Saudi Arabia for the warm reception and confirmed that the upcoming match will not be easy.

He said: “Tomorrow we face the title holder. These matches give us confidence and stability and show us how far we have progressed with our capabilities. We have played against strong teams, and the match is a new challenge. We will perform with determination and resolve to achieve the desired result and make our fans happy.”

Paulo Sousa

Paulo Sousa, head coach of Shabab Al Ahli, began his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Al Ahli KSA by congratulating Al Ahli on the outstanding season they delivered last year. He noted that they are facing the defending champions of AFC Champions League and expressed his happiness to compete against a big and well-organized team.

He said: “the match is against a team that is disciplined performance and results, which demands a lot from us in the upcoming challenge. I am extremely proud of what our team has delivered so far and of the responsibility the players show in every match.”

He added: “We have played against strong teams with high-level qualities. We are proud to compete at this level and aim to compete in the best possible way against big and powerful teams that possess outstanding players and great quality. This gives us confidence to compete.”