The Peninsula
Title-contenders Al Duhail and Al Sadd will begin their 2019 AFC Champions League (ACL) campaigns today, hoping for winning starts in the tough continental tournament.
Reigning QNB Stars League (QSL) champions Al Duhail, coached by Jose Mourinho’s long-time assistant Rui Faria, will host Iran’s Esteghlal in Doha while Al Sadd are in Jeddah to play Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli.
Al Duhail reached the quarter-finals in the last edition after matching Ulsan Hyundai’s record of nine successive wins, from 2012. This year, the Qatari giants are targeting the coveted trophy.
“Our main ambition is to win the title or reach the farthest point in the tournament,” the club’s Executive Manager Adnan Al Ali said ahead of Al Duhail’s opening match.
“I hope the results this year will be better from the last season in which we were very close from reaching the semi-finals,” he added.
Al Duhail consist of many players from Qatar’s 2019 Asian Cup-winning squad.
‘The Red Knights’ have the likes of Amin Lecomte, Benatia, Bassam Al Rawi, Ahmed Yasser, Nakajima, Yousef El Arabi, Karim Boudiaf, Assim Madibo, Paolo Edmilson, Sultan Al Breik, Murad Naji and Luis Martin.
“The team has players with great experience and there are players who are young but also have great experience, and everyone watched them in the Asian Cup,” said Al Ali.
The match will kick off at 6:15pm at Al Duhail Stadium.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira said the match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli at their home ground will be tough.
“Starting well is very important in the AFC Champions League. Al Ahli are a strong and excellent team, despite the change in coach and some foreign players. Opening games are always tough but we are ready for it and we will play for the win,” said Ferreira.
As for playing in front of a huge crowd, Ferreira said: “The Al Sadd players are used to playing in front of big crowds and this won’t be a problem for them. They have the experience and capability to face this.”
When asked about the absence of team captain Xavi Hernandez, the coach said: “Xavi is not just a star but an example for the team and the players. But in the last four years, we have tried to work as an organised group and not focus on one player. I am proud of all the players who have developed over the recent period, especially the young ones.”
He added: “Yes, we will miss Xavi as he is a star player but I am happy with the work of the current group. We look forward to his return as soon as possible so that he can be a great addition to the team in the upcoming matches, both at home and in Asia.”
The kick-off is at the King Abdullah Stadium at 8:15pm.