Doha: Al Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez (pictured) is expecting a tough battle against Al Khor in today's QNB Stars League (QSL) fourth round clash.
The Spaniard and his team return to the League competition after a brief break following a brilliant Ooredoo Cup title win which was recorded a few days ago.
However, despite possessing one of the strongest outfits in Qatar this season, Xavi yesterday said the match against Al Khor will be a difficult one.
“We have to face Al Khor and it will be a difficult game. They changed many players, especially foreigner players. They changed a lot. So it will be difficult.”
“Now, in the QSL, everybody improved a lot and every game is like a war.”
“So we have to be ready and we have to have the mentality to win and to get three points,” Xavi said.
Xavi was confident of winning the match today, but said for that to happen, his players will have to show their best level.
“In my opinion, we are the favourites to win these three points. We have to show our best level, our best version on the pitch,” Xavi said.
“We have to change our mindset now, we’ve come back to the QSL and it’s very important for us to win the title this season,” Xavi said.
“It’s our main objective and we are ready to compete.”
“The (international) players have come back from the national team after many days, we won the Ooredoo Cup and we are in a good moment,” Xavi said.
“We are doing really well, with a really good performance, especially the young players.”
“Now we have the capacity – we have a bigger squad – to change and rotate players, and everybody will be important in the team.”
The former champions will miss the services of three of their key players, Saad Al Dosari, Akram Afif and Abdelkarim Hassan, but will be looking to field a strong team
Saad suffered an injury during the Qatar national team’s friendly against Ghana, while Afif has been rested. Abdelkarim has a minor knock which has ruled him out of today's game.
In the other match today, the defending champions Al Duhail will take on Qatar SC at Al Duhail Stadium in the early kick off at 5.30pm.
