Doha: Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins and Umm Salal coach Patrice Carteron addressed the media in anticipation of their 2025-2026 season Doha Bank Stars League Week 1 match, scheduled for Friday.

According to Qatar News Agency, both coaches expressed their respective strategies and aspirations for the upcoming season.

Al Gharafa's coach, Pedro Martins, emphasized the positive outcomes of their pre-season preparations, highlighting the technical progress made by the team. Martins stated that the team aims to surpass last season's performance with the primary goal of contending for the league title. He acknowledged the increased competition due to the influx of foreign professional players, underscoring the need for greater effort from the coaching staff.

On the other hand, Umm Salal's coach, Patrice Carteron, shared his confidence in the team's strategy and ambitions for the season. Carteron acknowledged the strength and organization of Al Gharafa, recognizing the high standard of their players. Despite this, he maintained that his team has nothing to lose and will approach each match positively, respecting their opponents. Carteron also noted the challenges posed by the presence of numerous professional players in the league, predicting that every match will present significant challenges for all teams.