Salim Cheniouni
Doha, Qatar- Al Sadd Sports Club would be hoping that their winning momentum from the QNB Stars League rubs on to their performance when they take on Persepolis tonight.
Not to forget, they would be boosted by the home crowd advantage in tonight’s AFC Champions League first leg Semi-final at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, here.
The fact that the Wolves had won the AFC Champions League in 2011 too would be an added plus for the team in terms of the psychological advantage.
The final training session witnessed Spanish playmaker Gabi Fernández, who was awarded the Player of the Month of September, Xavi, Akram Afif and Baghdad Bounedjah train alongside Hassan Al-Haydous. The Slovakian midfielder is making a comeback following an injury layoff last season.
Later Al Sadd coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, addressed the reporters. “We are fit and raring to score early against Persepolis,” he said.
“We played a big game just three days ago. We won that match (5-1). We are ready. The players are confident,” the Portuguese said.
“My players know that they have to focus for 90 minutes. Our target is to score early goals and not concede any in return,” he said.
“All the Al Sadd players want to participate in this game. If a player is not fit, he will still say ‘I am ready’ because he doesn’t want to miss out on such a huge game. All the players are ready to offer their best in this very important match.”
Speaking about the preparations ahead of the big match, Ferreira said: “There was no special preparations for this game. We are focusing on the mental side of the preparation. The players have appeared in such matches before. Al Sadd has played three semi-finals before this. The club has won two titles. We are only trying to motivate the players to give their best because we know the strength of the Iranian team.”
“We do not feel pressure before this match. We are trying to be positive and the players of Al Sadd know they can be in the final. This is the dream we are trying to achieve,” he added.
Al Sadd coach stressed on that fact that the match was a ‘two-legged’ one and the team was focusing on both rather than one.
“We have to think only about the first leg. But we still have to remember that the second leg will be in Iran (on October 23) so the first match is important to us. It is not a points competition but a two-game competition,” Ferreira said.
“I urge the fans to turn out in large numbers. Their support is important to us,” he added.
Ferriera will be counting on the scoring form of strikers Bounedjah and striker Afif.
Al Sadd defensive midfielder former Atletico Madrid Captain, Gabi Fernandez, said: “It is a match not only for Al Sadd fans to cheer about. It is a game that every Qatari football fan should feel proud about and back the Al Sadd team. We are very motivated to win and qualify for the final. All the players are fully prepared and motivated to do well.”
“We, as experienced players, are always trying to share our experience with young players and cultivate their winning mentality. When I was at Atletico Madrid, I was playing to win and win titles. I still have the same mentality,” he added.
Meanwhile, Persepolis head coach Branko Ivankovic pointed out that his team had reached their second successive semi-final in the AFC Champions League.
“Persepolis are the only team to reach the last four for the second successive year. It shows we are progressing well,” Ivankovic told.
“We are excited for the match against Al Sadd in the semi-finals,” he added.
Two weeks ago, Persepolis beat Qatari outfit Al Duhail 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a 3-1 win in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. Al Sadd, on the other hand, beat Estaghlal of Iran, to qualify for the semi-final.
“We will not change our philosophy in the match against Al Sadd. We will play attacking football and I have trust in my players. We are optimistic about this match,” said Ivankovic.
“Persepolis fans like to win the AFC Champions League and we will do our best to do that,” Ivankovic said.
The match kicks off at 6:15pm today.