Al Sadd’s coach Xavi Hernandez speaks with a club official during a training session.
Defending champions Al Sadd will be hoping to make a winning start to their QNB Stars League (QSL) campaign when they take on newly promoted Al Wakrah in today’s match at their home ground.
Al Sadd and new coach Xavi Hernandez have had brilliant start to the new season by winning the season opening Sheikh Jassim Cup by defeating Al Duhail 1-0.
Earlier, Al Sadd defeated Al Duhail in two back-to-back matches of the AFC Champions League pre-quarter-final matches to make it to the quarter-finals of the continually championship.
Xavi, who replaced Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira after ending his playing career at the end of last season has won three matches so far as coach, all against Al Duhail, two in the AFC Champions League pre-quarter-finals and one in the Sheikh Jassim Cup.
Xavi, who is one of the six Spanish coaches in the 12-team league, will be hoping to extend the winning streak of the AFC Champions League and the Sheikh Jasim Cup in the QSL.
“We are very pleased so far with what we have done in the AFC Champions League and Sheikh Jassim Cup. The league championship is a new tournament and Al Sadd have important goals to win titles,” said the former Barcelona great.
“Al Wakrah are a very strong team that includes key players, both local and international. We will play at home and we studied the Al Wakrah team and I hope there will be no surprises, especially since we are the favourites to win because of our work,” he added.
Xavi will miss Nam Tae-hee, QSL player of the season in 2017-18 season and Baghdad Bounedjah.
Algerian striker Bounedjah last season scored 39 goals, and emerged as the top goal scorer in a single QSL season.
“All the clubs have evolved this season through new signings and early season preparations. There are many important players in the team who can create opportunities and we do not rely on only one player,” said Xavi.
Meanwhile, Marquez Lopez, Al Wakrah coach, said his team faces a difficult task and is looking forward to put their best foot forward in the opening match.
“Our task is difficult because we’re coming from the Second Division and we’re facing reigning QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd first. We worked to prepare for this match with the players physically and psychologically, and we hope to bring out our best,” Marquz said on the eve of the match.
“We’re waiting for a difficult confrontation against Al Sadd, which is a well-known team that always achieves positive results. Al Sadd played three games at the beginning of the season,” he added.
“Our outdoor camp was a success, we did a great job with the players and I’m happy with the response they’ve shown. Now they know my style of functioning. We played four friendly matches during our pre-season camp and we won three of them, which was good,” said the Spaniard.
“We’ve players who were with us last season and they know very well what I seek from them. There are new players in the team and they also know about our strategy. There are some changes according to the requirements of matches and that’s normal. We can deal with it,” Marquez added.
