Al Sadd’s Xavi Harnandez (left) during the AFC Champions League football match against Esteghlal FC , Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Monday.
Doha: Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira felt that his players were the deserving winners after scripting a 3-1 comeback victory over Esteghlal in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals in Tehran on Monday.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ferreira said: “We performed very well. We deserve to win by this scoreline and we could have scored more goals.”
“Qualification hasn’t been secured yet. We won the first leg but there is still a second leg that will undoubtedly be tough. Football has taught us that we can’t clinch the tie over just one game in such (knockout) rounds and we need to prepare well for the second leg.”
Asked if he had expected this result, the coach said: “It is easy to say now, after winning, that I expected this scenario. But the truth is I did not expect this.”
“I had spoken before the game saying that Al Sadd had come to win and not for a draw or a loss, and so we had played with the objective of winning. I expected that we would win and we managed it despite being a goal down in the first half. We committed an error and conceded a goal but in the second half, we succeeded in making up for that and getting the win. I want to congratulate my team for their excellent performance not just in this game but since the beginning of the season and since the start of preseason too.”
“The team deserves appreciation for their performances until now. But nothing is done yet. We still have a crucial phase ahead of us, in which we need to remain focused to clinch qualification to the semifinals and also focus on the league. I am confident in the ability of the players to deal with these pressures.”
He added: “It was not easy to win in such an atmosphere, with the pressure of playing in front of these fans. It’s also not easy to overturn the scoreline in such conditions. I want to congratulate the Al Sadd players again for this level of performance and I want to tell them that we haven’t achieved anything yet. We have a second leg coming up, for which we have to prepare well.”
Finally, Ferreira concluded by saying: “Al Sadd displayed its character, strength and desire by reaching this stage in the tournament and the players now need to remain focused in the second leg because qualification will only be ensured in Doha. Esteghlal will fight because they have nothing to lose. Al Sadd need to prepare fully for the game despite this deserved victory in Tehran.”
Meanwhile, Al Sadd forward Akram Afif described his side’s 3-1 victory over Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League as an important step towards the semi-finals.
Speaking after the match, Afif said: “Al Sadd are always at their best in the big games and everyone saw our great performance in this game, throughout the two halves. Despite trailing by a goal in the first half, we were the better side and had a number of clear chances that didn’t go our way.”
“In the second half, we managed to make the chances count and scored three goals that have taken us closer to qualification. But there still is a second leg match to be played in Doha, during which we will need to be highly focused. Winning (this game) is not enough to confirm qualification. We consider the real clash to be the second leg in Doha because it will be the decisive game. Every team will fight for the semifinal spot.”
He added: “We need to benefit from this great victory that we achieved at the Azadi Stadium, which is an important step towards qualification. Winning in front of our fans as well will officially send us to the semifinals.”
