Koeman: We are facing the best opponent

Omani coach Erwin Koeman described Saudi Arabia as the best opponent in the 24th Gulf Cup before facing them in the third round on Monday.

“We have only one day to play and there is no special preparation for this game,” he told the pre-match press conference. “We know the encounters are like these since the moment we participated in this tournament, and more importantly for us the players’ readiness in all respects.”

He added: “We did some light exercises in the hotel’s gym because the players need it, and we will assess their condition in terms of readiness. We have 23 players to face the best opponent in the tournament.”

As for the morale of his players: “We have high morale in all our games, and we are aware of the size of the ferocious competition in this group.”

He continued: “We have made some changes in the basic lineup compared to the Kuwait game, and I will talk with the technical staff regarding the players. I watched several videos of the Saudi team, and after studying them well, I will decide on the basic lineup or what way we will we play.”

As for the readiness of the players: “There are no injuries. We have 23 players ready and the Saudi team has more experience.”

“Maybe the Saudi team may impose a certain style on us. If the spaces allow us, we will play in our way. They are a team playing in spaces and they play with fun. We have to keep the ball and exchange short balls.”