Saudi Arabia head coach Giorgos Donis has declared that the team's clear objective is to win the Gulf Cup title. He made the statement during a press conference ahead of the tournament's kick-off in Jeddah, where the Green Falcons will face Kuwait in their group stage opener on Wednesday.
Donis views the tournament as ideal preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup, expressing confidence in his squad's high-quality players. The coach said: "We face a team with a great history in this tournament, and the Kuwait national team is preparing well for the Gulf Cup competitions." He added that the technical staff will do everything possible to deliver the best performance in the coming period to please the fans.
Dealing with Al-Juwayr's Absence
The Greek coach addressed the absence of player Musab Al-Juwayr due to injury, acknowledging it as a significant loss for the team. Donis explained that Al-Juwayr's role differs from that of Mukhtar Ali in midfield, so a direct comparison is not possible. He stressed the need to overcome this absence without letting it negatively affect the team's morale, stating: "Our first goal of course is to win the Gulf Cup title, and we must overcome what happened with Musab Al-Juwayr, and not allow that to affect us negatively."
The Team's Current Context
This focus on the Gulf Cup comes as the Saudi national team sits fourth in World Cup qualifying with just two points from three games. The team has scored one goal and conceded five in those matches, with their last result being a draw with Cape Verde Islands on June 27. Fans can check the full upcoming fixtures schedule for the team on our site.
Donis recalled past experiences, noting the team worked hard at the World Cup but made some wrong decisions. He now demands his players maintain confidence, stability, and control of the game from the first whistle. The Green Falcons meet Kuwait at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, aiming to start their tournament campaign strongly and secure a first win since beating Puerto Rico on June 5. The team's top scorer this season is Saleh Al Shehri with four goals, and the latest player stats can be followed in our dedicated section.
The report in full is at اليوم السابع
