Saudi national football team coach Hervé Renard underlined on Friday the importance of his team's upcoming "challenging and crucial" match against Iraq in the Gulf Cup currently underway in Kuwait.
Winning the match is essential to advancing to the semifinals, he told a press conference.
The teams will clash on Saturday afternoon.
"The Saudi fans consistently support the national team. Although we did not begin the tournament at our usual level, we will strive to bring the Saudi national team to its normal situation," he vowed.
"I concentrate solely on football, analyzing matches and players' performances daily to achieve our objectives," he added.
Meanwhile, Iraqi national team coach Jesus Casas said the match against Saudi Arabia is a chance to evaluate the team's blend of youth and experience.
He emphasized the importance of achieving proper harmony for the team to deliver the best result.
"The last match was disappointing, and all the teams in the tournament are competitive. We do not make excuses; instead, we will concentrate on putting forth a solid performance against the Saudi national team," Casas said.
