Xavi Eager to Win Asian Trophy As Al Sadd Face Al Duhail Today Qatar Teams’ AFC Champions League Round of 16 First Leg Clash at Al Janoub
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Lyon rips through England as Aussies seize Ashes advantage PAGE 14 TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2019 Qatar aim to make history in Asia AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Rugby Women’s 7s in Jakarta PAGE 14 AL SADD VS AL DUHAIL (7PM) Xavi eager to win Asian trophy as Al Sadd face Al Duhail today Qatar teams’ AFC Champions League Round of 16 First leg clash at Al Janoub AYENI OLUSEGUN hard, we have a tough game DOHA against one of the best teams in the Middle East. THE buzz around the Asian “We respect them but we Champions League Round of remember the Amir Cup fi- 16 clash between the two big- nal (Al Sadd lost 4-1) against gest teams of Qatar is no doubt them last May. Maybe this is a about one of football’s most chance to get revenge on them. recognised names and his It’s exciting for me to start like foray into coaching. this as a coach in my career,” Xavi Hernandez took over Xavi said at a press conference the top job at Al Sadd after the on Monday. resignation of Jesualdo Fer- The Spaniard takes charge reira last season. The Span- of a group of players who have Al Sadd players warm up for a training session at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah on Monday. The Wolves will be guided their former player and Barca star Xavi Hernandez. I am happy to be here as a coach. It is a big opportunity for me, and I am thankful to the club for their trust and I am especially happy to coach these players. – Xavi Hernandez IN A NEW ROLE: Al Sadd’s newly-appointed coach Xavi Hernandez caught in a pensive mood at the Al Janoub Stadium on Monday. iard who mesmerised fans superb chemistry and have while playing for Barcelona scored 100 goals in the QNB Al Duhail players train under the watchful eyes of their coach Rui Faria at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah on Monday. and the Spanish national team Stars League last season. But faces a new challenge – a test after four fruitful years as a win. Football gives you oppor- so our goal is to win everything about the team’s fitness going okay. I trust my players, let’s Barcelona we played against the midfield maestro says he’s player with Al Sadd, one trophy tunities and we have one now again,” the former World Cup into the season, Xavi said, “We see what happens tomorrow.” Real Madrid like this so we ready to take on. remains absent from the mid- to do better. winner said. are ready! Sure many players Both Al Sadd and Al Du- are okay. I’m a positive guy, “I am happy to be here as fielder’s trophy cabinet and he “Our idea is to attack and Al Sadd had a training were busy in the summer but hail will see a lot of each other we can lose and we can win. In a coach. It is a big opportunity aims to claim it as coach. play on the front foot, but camp in Spain over the sum- the players have the experi- in the next 14 days both in football, you never know. for me and I am thankful to “I won everything as a the objective is not only to mer but some of the team’s ence to compete. It’s better for Asia and the season-opening “It will be tough for us the club for their trust and I player except the ACL and we score goals but win impor- core players had a busy June/ me that they have played a lot Sheikh Jassim Cup. Xavi who against Duhail who aren’t big am especially happy to coach can do it now. We came close tant matches. Sure if we score July with the Copa America of football, it gives them more himself was once involved in alone in Qatar but also in the these players. against Persepolis last year in many goals we have the best and the African Cup of Na- knowledge. I’m just three back-to-back Spanish Clasico region and in Asia. But come “We are ready and training the semi-final but we didn’t chance of winning something, tions. In response to questions weeks into the job, so I am said, “I’m okay with that. In on, we are positive.” We will not focus on the coach alone, says Duhail manager Faria TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK in his first job as coach after We know their quality but they between the players so that DOHA 17 years under Jose Mourinho also need time to adapt to the they can implement our ideas. said, “Our ambitions are big new thinking of coach Xavi.” “We Know that this match AL Duhail coach Rui Faria and this is our first match this Changing of Al Sadd coach Al Duhail added new attack- is important and from our says his team will not take any- season. We have been preparing is a change of football ing options in Iraq’s Mohanad side, we are focusing on quali- thing for granted in their Asian since July 1 despite many play- philosophy and mind. Ali and the returning Yousef fying to the next round.” Champions League match ers being absent due to national But we won’t focus on the Msekni. With the exit of Youssef Also speaking on his return, against Al Sadd despite the team commitment. Al Sadd coach or player. We know El Arabi, Al Duhail Face an up- Msekni who went on a loan to Wolves having a new coach. also suffered the same, but this hill task to replace the goals pro- Belgian side KAS Eupen said, Faria led his team to sec- will be an important and special their quality but they also duction of the Moroccan. “After the injury I suffered, I ond place last season be- match against one of the strong- need time to adapt to the “We had changes also to have just began to play at a high hind Al Sadd but managed to est teams in Qatar and Asia, and new thinking of coach Xavi. our team, We brought special level and I am happy to return win the Amir Cup with a 4-1 now they have a new coach. players like Msekni and the again. We begin a new season thumping of Al Sadd at the Al “Changing of Al Sadd coach – Rui Faria striker Mohanad Ali. This sea- and our ambition is clear but Janoub Stadium last May. is a change of football philoso- son is different from the last first we have to win against Al The Portuguese who’s also phy and mind. But we won’t Al Duhail coach Rui Faria speaks to the media on Monday. focus on the coach or player. and our goal is the harmony Sadd and I hope to help in that.” Sports Tuesday, August 6, 2019 13 Manchester United make Maguire world’s most expensive defender AFP home to Chelsea on Sunday and United manager land reached the semi-finals for the first time LONDON Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident he will live up to since 1990. his hefty price tag. United were interested in his signature last Three things MANCHESTER United signed Harry Maguire from “Harry is one of the best centre-backs in the summer, but baulked at Leicester’s asking price. Leicester on Monday for a reported £80 million fee game today and I am delighted we have secured his A year on and with the heart of their defence that makes the England centre-back the world’s signature,” he said. brutally exposed in finishing sixth in the Premier about Harry most expensive defender. “He is a great reader of the game and has a League last season to miss out on Champions United have secured Maguire on a six-year con- strong presence on the pitch, with the ability to League qualification, the Red Devils finally paid the tract with an option for a further 12-month extension. remain calm under pressure - coupled with his fee the Foxes’ demanded. AFP ed academy manager John The £75 million Liverpool paid for Virgil composure on the ball and a huge presence in both Solskjaer had made strengthening central de- LONDON Pemberton switched him to van Dijk in 2018 was the previous record fee for boxes - I can see he will fit well into this group both fence a priority, with that need only becoming more central defence, saying his a defender. on and off the pitch. acute when Eric Bailly suffered a knee injury dur- HARRY Maguire became the ability to bring the ball out of However,, JuveJuventus’ tus captucapture e oof VaVan Dijk’s j s NNethet - “Heeasa has a geagreattpe personalityso a tya andd is s a fantastic a tast c ad- ing the prepre-season season tour of CChinahina which iis expected most expensive defender in the defence made him stand out. erlands teammatemmate MatthiMatthijsjs de LigtLigt ear-ear- dditionition ttoo the cluclub.”b.” ManchesManchesterter CCityity ttoo kkeepeep him out for at least four monthsmonths.. world when he signed for Man- Hardly a surprise then lier this monthth (July)(July) couldcould rise to 85.5 hhadad been interested in MaMaguire,guire, but MMaguire’saguire’s arrival also continues ththee trend of chester United from Leicester that Maguire’s idols were million euross (£(£7777 million)million) in add-ons.add-ons.