Al-Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez has spoken of his side’s readiness and desire to win ahead of their opening game of the 2020-21 QNB Stars League against Al-Kharaitiyat.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Xavi said: “We are really excited to start the new QSL season. We are ready to compete, and we want to start well.”
“We have in front of us Al Kharaitiyat, a new team in the competition, but we faced them in quarterfinals of the Amir Cup last season and it was really difficult because they have very good foreigner players. They are a good team, they really work well and they have a good coach – Yousuf Adam, I respect him a lot. When we faced his teams, it was really difficult.”
He added: “We want to start well, but as I insisted since last season, the QSL has improved a lot, so every game will be really tough to win.”
Xavi also remarked that the upcoming game is just as important as a clash against Duhail. “Yes, facing Kharaitiyat is the same as facing Duhail, there are three points to be won. So we are excited; we want to win, and to play well.”
“I think we are in good period, we stopped for a few days but we are in a good moment now. Some players came back from their loans and they will help the team. We have new foreigner players who can adapt really well. In my opinion, we have more options than last season to win this competition. So we are excited, we want to compete until the end and we want to win this competition.”
Asked about the Al-Sadd players who returned from their loans, Xavi said: “I’m very happy. As i told you, many players came back from loan – Yusuf, Bahaa, Ahmed Suhail, Waad, Musab – and I am very happy because they did very well in their clubs and they are helping us a lot in these last games.
As for Cazorla and Guilherme, the coach said: “We are talking about top players who played in Europe, in Spain, in the Premier League, in Greece, so for sure, they will help the team a lot. I am very happy because I know very well Cazorla and Guilherme and for sure, they have to be the leaders of the team and they will help us a lot. We are talking about players from another level.”
