Félix Sánchez: Our goal is to win the Super Shield

Félix Sánchez, the head coach of Al Sadd’s first football team, emphasized the importance of the upcoming Qatar-UAE Super Shield match against UAE’s Al Wasl, set to take place on Saturday, January 18, at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Sánchez stated: “We are proud to represent Qatar in this match. It’s a big game for us, and we are highly motivated to achieve victory and win the title.”

He added: “We are aware of Al Wasl’s strength, as they are also competing with us in the AFC Champions League. It will be a tough match, but we will give it our all to secure the win. Despite having some injured players, those who are ready will take the field, and we hope the team will put on a strong performance.”

Regarding the team’s preparations, Sánchez noted: “After the Gulf Cup, we resumed playing matches, but not all players were at their peak readiness, and we didn’t have much time to prepare. However, we must compete in every match at the highest level. Our aim is to keep the Super Shield trophy in Qatar.”

When asked about the frequent encounters between Al Sadd and Al Wasl players, either at the club level or during Qatar vs. UAE national team matches, Sánchez responded: “As I mentioned, we know each other well. The players have faced each other with their national teams and clubs, which adds to the challenge for both sides. The small details will make the difference, and we’ll strive to deliver an excellent performance for our fans.”

From the players’ perspective, Al Sadd defender Pedro Miguel shared his excitement about the match, saying: “This is the first time our club is playing in this tournament, and we’re excited to participate. We hope everything goes well, and we can claim the title.”

He continued: “We played against Al Wasl a few months ago. They are a strong and talented team, but all our players are confident in delivering a good performance, and we hope victory will be on our side.”

When asked about the significance of playing on home soil, Pedro said: “It’s important to play in front of our fans. It gives us extra strength, and we must be even stronger because we’re playing for our supporters.”