Kuala Lumpur: AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 success is the target for all 24 teams in next month's Finals, but Palestine head coach Noureddine Ould Ali believes his side has a greater motivation - bringing joy to the Palestinian people.
Ould Ali, now eight months into his tenure as head coach, will guide Palestine in their second appearance in the competition following their 2015 debut on the continental stage in Australia.
Speaking to the-AFC.com, the Algerian tactician revealed the desire of his players to provide happiness for Palestinians around the world with their performances in the United Arab Emirates.
"Palestinian people need to be happy," he said. "I think only football can give happiness to the Palestinian people.
"I know that all Palestinian people around the world follow us. They send us comments on social media and follow us in everything we do in football.
"Our target is to bring happiness for these people."
With three defeats and a goal difference of -10, Palestine had the worst record at the 2015 Finals and their task doesn't appear any easier this time around, with the West Asians drawn alongside Syria, Australia and Jordan in an arduous Group B.
But UAE 2019 will be the proving ground for a new-look Palestinian side. Players based in Chile, Sweden, Switzerland and Egypt have all featured in successful recent fixtures, while 20-year-old Hilal Al-Quds starlet Oday Dabbagh is a rising talent.
Having witnessed a 35-position rise in the FIFA rankings since the previous Asian Cup, and having engineered a six-game unbeaten run since October, Ould Ali is adamant that his side can provide a stern test for any side in Asia, starting with Syria on January 6.
Meet the #AsianCup2019 coaches from Group B: ?? ?? ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/80u6kKAhxI
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) November 28, 2018
"I give my team more than a chance (against Syria)," he declared. "I give them a 100 percent chance, 200 percent chance, 300 hundred percent chance.
"I know we have good players and we have good spirit and fight on the field... we don't go to lose. We go to show all of Asia that Palestine is a good team.
"I think for the Asian Cup we have been talking about this for six months since we discovered our group. The first match against Syria is not easy for us, but it's also not easy for Syria.
"Australia come from (playing in) the World Cup and I think they had a bad World Cup. They won the last Asian Cup, but it's not easy for Australia to have the same level for four years. I think we have the same chance against all teams."
With Ould Ali's charges chasing a first ever place in the AFC Asian Cup knockout stage, their final group match against neighbours Jordan could be crucial, but the 46-year-old is looking forward to what he describes as a "friendly derby".
"It will be a party I think. For me, for us, it will be a party because many Palestinians have family in Jordan, and Jordan has a good relationship with Palestine," he said.
"I think it will be a big party in this match. For sure, we will have fair play and I wish that we can win this match."
Source: the-afc.com