Sports Thursday, August 12, 2021 13 Portuguese coach Coach Xavi seeks a repeat Luis Castro is now Al Duhail manager QNA Doha of last season for Al Sadd, Al Duhail Club has announced its official contract with Portu- guese coach Luis Castro, to take over the responsibility of Man- aging the first football team for one season, succeeding French coach Sabri Lamouchi. wishes Messi the very best Al Duhail’s decision to part ways with Lamouchi comes Tribune News Network just one month before the start Doha of the new season (2021/2022) Luis Castro at Al Duhail. of the Qatar Football League Al Sadd’s Spanish head coach (QNB Stars League), which is looking forward with this Xavi Hernandez expressed his will start on September 11. coach to achieve good results satisfaction with his team’s The club said, in a state- and return again to win tro- preparations for the new sea- ment on their official website, phies next season, after the son, and affirmed the aim of that the 60-year-old Castro team’s performance and re- repeating the previous season’s is one of the names that have sults declined last season. achievements, according to a proven successful in the world It is noteworthy that Al report on the club’s website. of coaching, after coaching Duhail had some strong sign- Speaking on the sidelines a number of clubs, the last ings like Belgian Toby Alder- of the preseason training of which was the Ukrainian weireld, South Korean Nam camp, Xavi said: “We are at ‘Shakhtar Donetsk’. Tae Hee and Tunisian Ferjani the start of the new season, He added that the club Sassi. at our training camp in Olot, Catalonia.” “We were here two years ago, and it is amazing here, with good facilities and a good Al Wakrah sign hotel. We are focused on the new season and we are excited to prepare well for it. It will Angolan attacking be a difficult season because the Qatari international play- ers may be more focused on midfielder Dala the national team. But we are ready to compete as always.” QNA He added: “Hopefully we Doha can make the supporters of Al Sadd happy, especially as we Al Wakrah Sports Club have are really excited to start the announced an official contract season.” with Angolan player Gelson As for the changes in the Dala to support the club’s first team, the coach said: “We football team, starting from didn’t change many players. the new season (2021/2022) We signed Andre Ayew; he’s a Xavi Hernandez (2nd right) with his team during a training session of Al Sadd in Olot, Catalonia, Spain, on Wednesday. of the Qatar Football League very good player, professional (QNB Stars League), which and talented. Many young will start on September 11. players will also join the team. The club said, in a state- I wish all the best for the new ment on their official twit- players and the entire team.” ter account, that the Angolan Gelson Dala. Xavi has won all the titles Dala will be the fifth foreign on offer in Qatar as a coach, professional for the new sea- the Angolan player comes and remained energetic in his son, alongside the Brazilian within the framework of the aim to win more. “This is my Lucas Mendes, the Algerian club’s policy to support the third season at Al Sadd,” said Mohamed Ben Yatto, the Ma- team, after signing Duhails the former midfield superstar. lian Othman Coulibaly, and Hazem Shehata. “I’m still really excited to pre- the Iranian Omid Ibrahimi. It is expected that Gilson pare. I think everything will be The club’s brief statement Dala will travel during the next very good during the season.” did not mention the duration of few hours to Turkey to join the Asked about the 5-3 his contract with this player or camp of Al Wakrah to pre- friendly win over Spanish side the value of the financial deal. pare for the upcoming Qatari UE Figueres, Xavi replied: “I Al Wakra’s contract with league season. think it was a good test for us. It was the first game for us, of course, it was a friendly game but Al-Sadd always want to Mainz suffer coronavirus outbreak, compete. We want to see the new players adapt well with Al Sadd players in action during a training session. the team. I am happy that we Leipzig game could be in doubt competed really well.” players so that the fans can be and we need to continue like “Of course, we have time proud of us. Hopefully we can that. We need to keep going. I DPA progresses from here, we have ahead of us since we won’t play repeat the same achievements am proud, not of myself but of Frankfurt to see,” Mainz chief executive in the QSL until September but I as the last season.” the team, especially the players. here to help the country and the leaving Barcelona, Xavi said: Stefan Hofmann told Bild. think everything will be alright.” The 2020-21 season In the end, we are here to help 2022 project,” said Xavi. “First of all, Leo is my friend Bundesliga side Mainz re- After the previously pub- Regarding the team’s am- ended with Xavi winning the players, who are mainly re- “I think the national team and I wish him all the best. Of ported three new cases of coro- licized positive case of striker bition in the upcoming sea- the Best Coach award in the sponsible for the success.” will be ready to compete in course, it is a pity, especially navirus on Wednesday and 14 Karim Onisiwo, two more un- son, he said: “We are Al-Sadd QSL. Asked about this feat, Several players in Xavi’s 2022. It was an amazing per- for me as a Barcelona support- members of staff must quaran- named Mainz players tested and we are a winning team. Of the coach stated: “It’s not my squad were away with the Qa- formance in the Gold Cup and er. But this is life.” tine, they said in a statement. positive on Monday and Tues- course, the last season was a main objective to win the Best tar national team at the recent- it was a pity that they didn’t “Hopefully he can be suc- Sunday’s home league day, and a member of the historic season. But we want Coach award. Of course, I am ly concluded Concacaf Gold go through to the final. I think cessful wherever he goes. Of opener against RB Leipzig coaching team on Wednesday. to compete and keep going. I proud but not for myself, but Cup, and the coach was full of they deserved to go through course, it will be really diffi- could now be in doubt al- “All those infected were think we are the favourites in for the players.” praise for their performances. but this is football. At least, cult. I cannot imagine Messi though Mainz believe at pre- immediately placed in home all the competitions, especially “This is due to the players “I am really proud of our they showed a really good wearing a shirt other than that sent they have enough avail- quarantine. Except for mild the local competitions.” and this is because of our team- players in the national team, of picture and they are ready to of Barcelona but this is the re- able players to play. symptoms, they are doing He added: “I am very ex- work – the technical staff, the Felix Sanchez, the technical staff compete against everybody.” ality. It is a pity and yesterday, “The rules are clear, at the well,” Mainz said in a state- cited to continue working medical staff and the kitmen. and the management. They are Finally, asked about his everybody was sad but this is moment we assume that the ment, adding that two of those hard for the team, to help the Everybody worked really well working really well. We are all former teammate Lionel Messi life. I wish him all the best.” match will take place. How it infected are fully vaccinated. Messi and Pochettino can form La Liga agreement with special bond, says Ardiles CVC labelled ‘totally illegal’

DPA winner, told Stats Perform. Messi scored 672 times in by Spanish FA Paris “But it helps to have that 778 appearances for the Blau- many Argentinians. Mauricio, grana, winning the Champi- DPA bly – was heavily criticized by press its opposition.” Ossie Ardiles believes Lionel Messi is not just for instance, is from the same ons League four times and Madrid Real Madrid and Barcelona. The RFEF also claims the Messi will form a stronger Argentinian, but a global city [as Messi], Rosario. Ob- claiming 10 LaLiga titles. Madrid and Barca al- agreement with CVC does not bond with Mauricio Pochetti- player. Of course he is able viously, they speak the same The 34-year-old was re- La Liga’s deal with CVC Capi- lege the agreement affects account for the clubs who will no than he has with any other to play with anyone and he language. duced to tears during an tal Partners has been labelled all clubs’ audiovisual rights be promoted to La Liga further manager after the Argentina is also able to play at any “It will be very important emotional farewell press con- “totally illegal” by the Spanish for the next 50 years, with down the line, which would captain’s move to Paris Saint- for Lionel Messi to have Mau- ference and Ardiles fears for Football Federation (RFEF). Los Blancos threatening to see their income reduced if not Germain. style of game. This is how ricio there. Barca following the departure The 2.7 billion euro ($3.2 take legal action against La paid upfront. Messi has signed a two- enormous his game is. Messi got along well with of the inspirational skipper billion) arrangement that was Liga and president Javier “We consider this an at- year deal with PSG after Barca Ossie Ardiles, a former almost every manager, but I - especially considering the announced last week would Tebas as they were not prop- tempt to bypass the law and were unable to keep the su- think it will be even better with desperate state of the club’s see private equity firm CVC erly consulted. create an agreement which is perstar forward for financial Argentina international and Mauricio. finances. acquire 10 per cent of the In a long statement re- economically dreadful and de- reasons. World Cup winner, “Being with Di Maria, Ardiles added: “Barca league’s commercial business. leased on their official web- plorable in terms of the future Former Argentina mid- Paredes and Icardi will help, stays very, very hurt. Actually, The other 90 per cent of site on Wednesday, the RFEF of Spanish football while, in fielder Ardiles expects the for Messi. but I also think these players the situation is absolutely crit- the investment was earmarked said it is also totally opposed contrast, excellent for an in- six-time Ballon d’Or to revel “Messi is not just Argen- don’t play the full Argentin- ical. To lose the best player in to boost cash-strapped clubs to the proposal that has been vestment fund and other pos- in playing under his compa- tinian, but a global player. Of ian style. They are very global. the world is tough. in the top two tiers of Spanish put forward. sible beneficiaries. triot Pochettino. course he is able to play with Icardi has been in Italy and “He has spent 20 years in football amid the coronavirus The statement read: “Re- “The RFEF must also warn Ardiles also feels the anyone and he is also able to now at PSG. The same for the club, he is the symbol, the pandemic. garding the agreements be- that it will not allow during presence of fellow Argentin- play at any style of game. This Paredes or Di Maria, being captain ... However, the deal – which tween the LNFP (La Liga) and these 50 years any reduction ians Angel Di Maria, Mauro is how enormous his game is,” also in English football. From he is everything. I really must be approved by two CVC related to the audiovisual in the contribution from au- Icardi and Leandro Pare- Ardiles, a former Argentina that point of view, there won’t think there are coming very thirds of the 42 clubs involved rights of sports clubs and cor- dio-visual rights given to the des can only be a positive international and World Cup be any issue, for sure.” tough times for Barcelona.” at Thursday’s general assem- porations, the RFEF must ex- lower tiers of football.”