Police Coach Bets on Champion Spirit Against Al-Ittihad

Preview and Mindset

The Iraqi Police coach Moamen Suleiman and the Syrian international Mahmoud Al-Mawas held a press conference on Sunday evening to discuss the upcoming clash against Saudi powerhouse Al-Ittihad in the Elite AFC Champions League.

Suleiman stressed that his side is fully prepared, noting that the staff and players worked hard during the international break, and that the team hopes for a positive result to please Police fans and boost their tournament hopes.

The Egyptian-born coach said: "We are ready to face Al-Ittihad, and our main goal is to achieve a positive result that satisfies the Police fans whom we highly respect. We worked hard during the international break, both tactically and physically, and we aim to present a performance worthy of the club's name and its great history."

Suleiman added that in recent days the coaching staff has focused on the mental aspect to enter the match without nerves or heavy pressure, stressing that psychological preparation is as important as tactical and technical work.

He continued: "Our objective is to enter the match with confidence and calm, because we believe proper handling of pressure is keys to good performance. We will face a strong team with many skilled players, but we trust our capabilities and the resources we have on the pitch."

In a match feature, the two teams are labeled for the Elite competition; Police's and Al-Ittihad's lineups are shown, with crests and profiles. Suleiman noted that his players have shown commitment and hard work in training, and he is fully satisfied with their footballing level and readiness to perform better in tomorrow's game. "I am pleased with the players' work during the preparations, and I trust they will deliver a performance befitting the name of Al-Shorta," he added.

Also: "We keep developing our attacking and defensive style; our aim is to present a dignified performance against a big team like Al-Ittihad."

Al-Mawas expressed optimism before the clash, noting that Al-Shorta will approach the match with their usual attacking style and will not change their approach. "Our goal is to win and take the three points, and we will give everything for that," he said.

The Syrian striker stressed that the team is focusing on themselves more than on the opponent, adding that respecting the opponent does not mean fear of him. "We respect Al-Ittihad a lot — it's a big team with top players — but our focus is on ourselves and following the coach's instructions precisely. We aim to delight our fans and deliver a strong performance that does justice to Al-Shorta's name in the tournament."

Al-Mawas also urged fans to attend and support the team, saying their backing is a powerful weapon for the match. "We are ready for the challenge, and we count on our large fanbase behind us; their presence motivates us to give our best and live up to the trust placed in us."

Team positions

The two sides head into the match seeking their first continental win of the season after an uneven start. Al-Shorta opened their Elite AFC campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Qatar's Al-Sadd on Sept 15 after surrendering the lead given by Senegalese Dominique Mendry in the 28th minute. They then conceded to lose 2-0 away to Al-Gharafa, with Joselu and Ferjani Sassi scoring for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad also suffered two consecutive defeats at the continental start, a disappointing opening for the reigning Roshen League champions. They lost the first match away to UAE's Al-Wahda 2-1 after leading 1-0 thanks to Steven Bergwijn, and then fell at home to Shabab Al-Ahli in the second round, with Said Ezzatullah netting for the visitors.

The clash marks Al-Ittihad’s first continental test under Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, who took over after Laurent Blanc’s departure.

Suleiman closed with a strong message to Police supporters: "We understand the weight of this responsibility and what this match means for our fans. We promise to play a big game and compete honorably until the final whistle—our team carries a champion’s personality, and we will prove it against Al-Ittihad."

Message from Al-Mawas

From his side, Mahmoud Al-Mawas expressed great optimism, insisting that the team will continue its aggressive approach and will not alter its style for the opponent. "We always play in an attacking way and we will not abandon it against Al-Ittihad. Our aim is to win and collect three points, and we will give our all for that."

Al-Mawas added that the focus is primarily on themselves and their instructions, emphasizing that respecting the opponent does not mean fear. "We respect Al-Ittihad a lot, but our concentration is on executing the coach’s plan to perfection. We want to entertain our fans and deliver a strong performance that honors Al-Shorta in the tournament."

He also highlighted the importance of support from the stands: "Fan support can be a powerful weapon in this match; we count on them to be with us and push us to our best."

And as the whistle looms, both teams chase their first continental win of the season, with expectations high for a memorable showdown between a team’s champion aura and a club eager to prove its mettle.

Punchlines

Punchline 1: If strategy were a sniper shot, Moamen would have called in a cameo from a coffee cup—ding, target locked, goal in sight.

Punchline 2: When football meetings turn into chess, Al-Ittihad might realize their bishop forgot how to defend; fortunately for them, the ball is still on the board and the clock is happily ticking toward a net.