Al-Jazeera's goalkeeper, Ali Khaseef, stated that the significant absences in the team had a clear impact on the 3-0 loss to Shabab Al-Ahli in the final round of the 11th round of the ADNOC Pro League. Khaseef told "Al-Ittihad" that he did not expect the team to achieve this result or perform in this manner, and hopes that it will improve in the upcoming matches. He explained that "the absences were highly influential, and this is not to diminish the value of the existing players, but around eight players were absent due to injuries, suspensions, or international commitments. Nevertheless, we must present the best we have, and we hope the future will be better." Regarding Al-Jazeera's fall out of the title race after this defeat, he said: "As for the competition for the top spot, the loss to Shabab Al-Ahli will not change our overall goal. We are focusing on each round individually, and our goal since the beginning of the season has been to be among the leading teams. Without a doubt, the board of directors and technical committee members are monitoring the team closely and setting appropriate plans and goals for the season." He also spoke about the error he made that contributed to Shabab Al-Ahli's first goal, saying: "Mistakes are a natural part of football, especially in the play that led to the goal today. These things happen to any player, and a goalkeeper can also make mistakes sometimes, and that's normal. The important thing is to learn from mistakes and continue to perform well. The ball that went into the net is part of the game, and every mistake is an opportunity for improvement." Khaseef highlighted the importance of the young players' experience and the team's physical fitness, saying: "We are talking about seven or eight key players who are absent, so it's natural for the team to be affected by these absences. But the blessing is in those who are present. We have young players, some of whom haven't even reached the age of 22, which gives them a motivational push and promises a good future for the team, as the youth's experience helped us and gave us the ability to perform well, but we weren't lucky enough to win." About his personal level, he said: "Age is just a number, and I hope to continue to give my best to serve the club and the national team. Continuity and perseverance on the field are the most important for achieving the team's goals, and I will continue to perform my role to the best of my ability." He continued: "Regarding the team's level, I will say frankly that Al-Jazeera was not in its best form, and even in previous matches, we were not always at the required level. But this does not mean that we will stop. The opportunity was there for Shabab Al-Ahli to catch up with the leaders, but our absences affected us clearly, and that is natural. Currently, we have four upcoming matches with strong absences, but the rest of the players will see the situation and help the team improve." Concluding his statements, he answered a question about whether the team needs to sign new players in the winter transfer window, saying: "Of course, the technical committee is following all matters and decides what is best for the team, but in the end, we must give our maximum in every match and work to give everything we have for the team."
Ali Khaseef: • Age is just a number, and I hope to continue to give my best to serve the club and the national team. • Mistakes are a natural part of football, and the important thing is to learn from them and continue to perform well.
