AFC
With a new exciting season in Qatar looming large, and knockout stage action in the AFC Champions League set to resume next week, Al Duhail star and AFC Asian Cup 2019 winner Almoez Ali has declared that both he and his teammates are fully focused on winning as much silverware as possible in the weeks and months to come.
Al Duhail are scheduled to meet rivals and defending Qatar league champions Al Sadd over two legs in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 on August 6 and 13, before facing the same opponents when their latest domestic campaign gets underway with the Qatari Super Cup on August 17.
Despite the hectic nature of football’s modern-day calendar, Ali has targetted nothing but success for the side which finished as runners-up to Al Sadd in last season’s Qatar Stars League standings, but exacted a degree of revenge by comprehensively claiming the Amir of Qatar Cup title.
“The preparations for the new season have been different from previous seasons,” the Qatar international forward told Al Duhail’s official website.
“We have been focusing on a number of things which have been determined by both the coaching staff and the club management, and we are mindful that Al Duhail are one of the clubs that enters competitions to win and not just to compete.
“We promise our fans that we will give 120 percent and do our utmost to regain the league title, while (in the AFC Champions League) our chances are good because we have gained experience from playing at this level before.
“Our goal is to also win that competition, and we are very focused on our games to come against Al Sadd,” added Ali who emerged as top scorer with nine goals following his country’s success at this year’s AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Having seen influential forward Youssef El Arabi leave to join Greek side Olympiakos, Al Duhail have since been boosted by the arrival of Iraqi sensation Mohannad Ali, a signing which has been resoundingly endorsed by Ali.
“Mohanad Ali is a young player and a good striker with exceptional skills,” he said. “He will certainly help the club a lot given the performances we have all seen when he was playing in the Iraqi Pro League and for his national team. Any competition [for places in the team] between us, can only be very beneficial for the team.”
After shining brightly at the AFC Asian Cup, Ali has become a target for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. But, despite the interest, the 22-year-old insists that it will always be a case of team first and individual second.
“It is true that there have been some offers from European teams, and this can only be good for the player and the national team,” he explained. “But now I am with Al Duhail and I am focusing on putting the benefits of the team first and winning titles.”