Al-Sadd coach Felix Sanchez emphasized the intensity and difficulty of the match his team played against Al-Ain in the first round of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite.
In his post-match comments, Felix said: “We faced a very tough match against Al-Ain and their home crowd. We had the upper hand in the first half with possession and managed to score the lead goal in the final minutes.”
The Al-Sadd coach continued: “In the second half, we dropped off despite the significant physical effort, and it was hard to maintain the same tempo. Al-Ain managed to score the equalizer. There was a lot of physical contact from both teams, which contributed to the increased intensity in the second half.”
Regarding the draw, Sanchez said: “We were aiming for the win, but there were some circumstances that prevented that. The team is improving with each game, and the result is good, especially considering we earned a point from the reigning champions.”
He concluded: “We secured an important point, and I congratulate my players for their performance today. We aim to keep improving in the upcoming matches.”
