In a statement to the official website after the end of Al-Sadd’s 2021-22 season, Turki Al-Ali, CEO of the club, said that the season did not culminate in the way the fans or the management wished for.
He said: “We did not want our season to end in this way, and there is no convincing justification that we can offer to our fans. We acknowledge the wave of anger and every constructive criticism written against all of us is appreciated and respected, and our work and our self-evaluation will be based on that.”
The CEO added: “We, as the management, bear the most responsibility, as we did not prepare the team and players mentally for this tournament. Just as we admit our mistakes, we are also proud to belong to this institution, and we trust our capabilities and we will return better than before.”
Turki reiterated that the reaction from the fans and their demands for correction in the upcoming period are natural and logical, as Al-Sadd fans are used to seeing their team compete for and win championships.
“Personally, I appreciate the comments of all Qatari fans, from Al-Sadd fans to the rest of the fans, from other clubs, and even those who do not follow football.”
As for some statements from the players about the coach during the tournament, the CEO stressed that this is unacceptable and said: “We will not allow it, as it is neither the club’s approach nor its style.”
As for the coach Javi Gracia, Turki said: “His contract expires at the end of the season, and he has done what he owes to the team. I do not hold him responsible, and it is possible he was not fortunate.”
He continued, “There will be a meeting with the club’s president, who has asked to hold an extraordinary general assembly in accordance with the statutes, to determine how we will work during the next stage, and it may witness changes at all levels, and from there the change will begin.”
Turki concluded his statement by addressing the Al-Sadd fans: “I apologise on behalf of everyone who works in the club for what happened, and we promise our fans that this will not go without correction. We will change the current situation in the coming days. This is a new step after the end of a chapter, as we preferred not to declare anything until the end of the team’s participation in the tournament.”
