Algeria's national team coach, Djamel Belmadi, emphasized the need to prepare for the match in the best possible way, describing the UAE team as a good side that is developing from one game to another, and also noting that they have an excellent coach, the Romanian Ilie Cosmin, confirming that this pushes them to deal with the match with great caution. Belmadi said during the pre-match press conference: "The match will be very important for both teams and will have a serious character as it is a knockout game, and we must focus on our work on the field." The Algeria coach added that the tournament carries a special and unique character for them, confirming his appreciation for the competitive atmosphere it provides. Belmadi revealed that he got to know Cosmin when the latter was coaching in the UAE league, and that he had met him on several occasions. The Algeria coach pointed to some absences in the squad, which will give a number of players the opportunity to prove themselves in this crucial encounter. He continued: "The UAE team played in the World Cup playoffs and reached advanced stages, they are improving in every match they play, and even when they don't win, they lose by a small margin." Romanian coach Ilie Cosmin confirmed that the match against Algeria on Friday in the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup will be difficult. Algeria's national team coach, Djamel Belmadi, confirmed the difficulty of the upcoming match that will bring his team against the UAE tomorrow in the quarter-finals of the Arab Cup in Doha, describing the match as important for both teams and comparing it to an early final in the tournament. Belmadi stressed that the quarter-final is a stage where anything is possible, and said: "It will be a strong and knockout match, we will be cautious in this confrontation." He noted that the quarter-final match is different from the group stage, so they will be cautious against the UAE team. The Algeria coach said at the press conference yesterday: "The match will be important for both teams and will have a serious character as it is a knockout game, and we need to focus on our work." Belmadi revealed that he got to know Cosmin when he was coaching in the UAE league and had met him on several occasions, pointing out that there will be some absences in the squad, especially after the match against Sudan in the first round. The Algeria coach continued: "There are some problems and obstacles, but we are trying to make the best of the situation in defense and ball possession, and we strive to present the best we have, and I am proud of these players in the team, and it is very important for them to be present strongly at this stage of the tournament." Belmadi, who played for and then coached Fujairah Club in 2014 and 2019, said: "I know UAE football well, as well as the UAE team - it is a new and developing team, it has a good coach, I know him and I have spoken to him before during my time in the UAE league."
