Jeddah: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe has expressed confidence ahead of his side’s AFC Champions League Elite Final Jeddah 2026™ quarter-final clash against Qatar’s Al Sadd SC, revealing that several experienced players are set to return to the squad.
The Japanese side arrived in Jeddah in strong form, with Skibbe optimistic that his team will be close to full strength for Thursday’s encounter at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.
“I’m very happy that nearly all the players in the squad are ready to play,” Skibbe said, highlighting the importance of experienced figures, including former Japan internationals Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto.
“Their return is very important for us. They are leaders of the group and give us additional strength. Hopefully, we can show that we are competitive against Al Sadd,” he added.
In his first season in charge, Skibbe—who joined from Sanfrecce Hiroshima to replace Takayuki Yoshida—said he is relishing the challenge of competing at the highest continental level. The 60-year-old, who previously coached Borussia Dortmund, described the tournament as a major opportunity for his side.
Vissel Kobe narrowly missed out on reaching the finals last season after a round of 16 exit to Gwangju FC, and Skibbe believes his team is eager to go further this time.
Reflecting on the level of competition, he pointed to the intensity of recent matches, including Al Sadd’s clash with Al Hilal SFC.
“We have seen how strong football is in West Asia. Teams like Al Sadd have power, speed and physical strength. They also have very experienced players and a coach who has achieved a lot,” Skibbe noted, referring to Al Sadd boss Roberto Mancini.
Despite acknowledging the challenge, Skibbe emphasised his team’s ambition to showcase their quality.
“It’s very nice to be here in Jeddah, and we want to demonstrate how good Vissel Kobe can be. We are looking forward to the match,” he said.
The fixture will mark the first-ever meeting between the two sides in the AFC Champions League Elite, with Vissel Kobe entering the contest as dominant leaders in the J.League 100 Year Vision tournament.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd head into the clash following a physically demanding encounter against Al Hilal, where they played over 120 minutes before securing a 4-2 victory on penalties.
Mancini acknowledged the challenge of recovery but remained optimistic about his team’s readiness.
“We hope to recover well from the last game. It was very hard playing 120 minutes, but we are preparing for another strong match against a very good team,” he said.
The Italian coach notably refrained from making substitutions during the previous match, citing his confidence in the starting lineup.
“The team had a very good balance and performed very well. Only in the final minutes of extra time did fatigue set in, but the players executed the penalties perfectly. That is why I chose not to make changes,” Mancini added.
With both sides boasting quality, experience, and momentum, Thursday’s quarter-final promises to be a highly competitive encounter as they battle for a place in the semi-finals.
Match: Al Sadd SC (QAT) v Vissel Kobe (JPN)
Venue: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium (Jeddah)
Kick-off: Thursday, 19:15 (UTC+3)
