Al Sadd Take on Oceania Champs Hienghene Sport in Opener Today
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Sheikh Khalifa elected as Al Duhail Club President WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 PAGE 14 Al Sadd take on Oceania champs Hienghene Sport in opener today The Schedule Play-Off December 11: Al Sadd vs Hienghene Sport We understand that we’re the 8:30pm at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium Quarter-finals favourites. Our aim is for the players December 14: Play-off winner vs Monterrey not to feel the added pressure. We TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK 8:30pm at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium want them to play without fear and DOHA December 14: Al Hilal vs Esperance de Tunis 5.00pm at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium express themselves freely. AL Sadd, winners of Qatar’s Fifth-place play-off December 17: QF 1 Loser vs QF 2 Loser – Xavi Hernandez, coach Al Sadd domestic league and AFC 5:30pm at Khalifa International Stadium Champions League semi-fi- Semi-finals nalists this year, will take on December 17: QF 1 Winner vs Flamengo surprise Oceania champions 8:30pm at Khalifa International Stadium Hienghene Sport in the open- December 18: QF 2 Winner vs Liverpool ing game of the 16th edition 8:30pm at Khalifa International Stadium of the FIFA Club World Cup Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez (left) addresses the media in Doha on Tuesday ahead of the FIFA Club 3rd Place Play-Off at the Jassim Bin Hamad Sta- World Cup 2019 opening match against Hienghene Sport. December 21: SF 1 Loser vs SF 2 Loser 5:30pm at Khalifa International Stadium dium on Wednesday. Final This will be Al Sadd’s second December 21: SF 1 Winner vs SF 2 Winner participation in the competition 8:30pm at Khalifa International Stadium after debuting in the 2011 edi- tion, where they finished third. This time the man in charge will On Xavi being the first be none other than Xavi Her- to have played in FIFA Club Afif receives Asia Player nandez, who won that 2011 edi- World Cup and now coaching tion with Barcelona. After four a side in the same tournament, of the Year 2019 award seasons playing for Al Sadd, the the Spaniard expressed sur- veteran Spain midfielder hung prise. ““I didn’t know it! So, it’s up his boots in May to take up a privilege, thank you for the the coaching reins. information!... I am more ex- Facing them will be Hieng- cited now, it’s an honour.” hene Sport, the first New Cal- Meanwhile, Hienghene edonian team to reach the Club Sport’s head coach Felix World Cup, who themselves will Tagawa hoped for his team to be hoping to spring a surprise. Hienghene Sport coach Felix Tagawa (left) and player Bertrand Kai speak to the media on Tuesday. make a good start. “It’s a very “We’ve looked at Hienghene big match for us, with a team and we understand that we’re that plays football very well, the favourites, although you still The teams that continually shows their have to go out and do it on the AL SADD HIENGHENE SPORT skill through their style of pitch. Our aim is for the play- Goalkeepers: Sadd al Sheeb, Meshaal Goalkeepers: Rocky Nyikeine, Yeiwene It’s a big privilege for us to football,” he said of Al Sadd. ers not to feel the added pres- Barsham, Yousef Abdullah; Defenders: Yeiwene, Jacque Nyiekeine; Defenders: play against the best clubs. He, however, added: “To sure that comes with being the Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Tarek Joris Gorendiawe, Williams Yentao, Bruno We are very excited to play, know us you’ll have to meet home team and wanting to per- Salman, Hamid Khaleefa, Boualem Hyanem, Jordan Dinet, Roy Kayara, Emile to start the competition. us. We will take our chance form – as can often happen. We Khoukhi, Hussain Bahzad, Yasir Isa; Bearune, Franck Sinem, Yvannoe Bamy; to be known in the match.... want them to play without fear Midfielders: Jung Wooyoung, Ali Assadalla, Midfielders: Cedric Sansot, Geordy Gony, Felix Tagawa, coach your competitor is the compe- and express themselves freely. tition, and it is on us to bring Gabi, Salem al Hajri, Moustafa Tarek, Faisal Miguel Kayara, Kohei Matsumoto, Kevin Hienghene Sport There are some quality players Mohammad; Forwards: Abdulaziz Rashid forward our best, so we can be Tein, Joseph Athale, Dos Santos Camargo, in my team,” said Al Sadd coach al Ansari, Hassan al haydos, Baghdad ready for tomorrow.” Sousa Vilela; Forwards: Antony Kai, Xavi Hernandez, former Barce- Bounedjah, Nam Tae-hee, Hashim Ali, this year, would surely look to Hienghene Sport’s player lona star player. Akram Afif, Rami Suhail. Jefferson Dahite, Bertrand Kai, Amy Roine. do the same. Bertrand Kai also spoke high- “It’s a big privilege for us to Coach: Xavi Heranandez. Coach: Felix Tagawa. “We have the best gen- ly of Al Sadd, saying, “Just play against the best clubs dur- eration of Qatari players in like their coach (Xavi) has ing this year... so we are very history, in my opinion,” said mentioned this is a profes- excited to play, to start the com- tions, home advantage has lers (2016) and Al Ain (2018). Xavi while addressing the pre- sional team that is very tough, petition,” he added. propelled the host nation’s Al Sadd, which is packed match media conference. “But and has been a champion for Qatar national team and Al Sadd Sports Club star Akram Afif received The Club World Cup is representatives to the final on with at least eight top star play- we have tomorrow a very diffi- Qatar Stars League numerous his best Asian Player of the Year 2019 award from Sheikh Salman a tournament given to sur- three occasions: Raja Casa- ers from the Qatar national cult game and we have to take times. We will try our best to bin Ibrahim al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation prises. In the last six edi- blanca (2013), Kashima Ant- team that won the Asian Cup it step by step.” defend our colours.” (AFC), on Tuesday. It’s me who suffers if we don’t have the ball: Coach Xavi AVING lifted the FIFA competitive thing in a differ- up at Barça and in the national fer. You suffer when you don’t the same as mine, but I’ve got do it on the pitch. What I won’t are the Generation Amaz- Club World Cup twice ent way and I feel even more team. I make sure we work on have the ball. That 30-40 per nothing but admiration for him take from my teams is a lack of ing Program Ambassador. Hwhile wearing the col- responsible as a coach. So, yes, possession in every training cent of possession that you for everything he’s achieved effort. I want them to try. They How is Qatar getting in ours of Barcelona, Xavi makes I’m enjoying it. session and I have the players don’t have is when you have to at Atletico Madrid and what might fail 200 times, but I want gear for the FIFA World his return in an altogether trying to win the ball back as work hardest. he’s done at that club. The them to try. Cup 2022? fresh guise. Now coach of Qa- How do you describe soon as they can. likes of [Pep] Guardiola and I’ve spent the last four years tar 2019’s host champions Al yourself as a coach? That’s my philosophy: to have Is there any coach whose Jurgen Klopp have made their This is a tournament where playing for Al Sadd, but I’ve Sadd, the Catalan pass master I’d describe myself as someone possession high up the pitch method and tactics great- mark as coaches too, and Luis surprises can happen, with also had very close ties to the will be orchestrating from the who likes to have the ball. I’m – not just sitting and waiting – ly differ to yours, but you Aragones, Vicente del Bosque host teams having reached national football association touchline. there in the dugout suffering if and to go on the attack, because particularly admire all and Luis Enrique are also great the final in recent years. and the Aspire Academy, try- That Blaugrana DNA is set my team doesn’t have the ball. the more chances you create, the same? coaches. In some ways, a team What strengths could see ing to improve the standard of to be very present, too, with It was the same when I played: the more chances you have to Now that I’ve seen how difficult is a reflection of its coach. And Al Sadd do the same? the new generation of players. possession and a selfish de- I loved being on the ball. What win. Where I have surprised this job is, I’ve obviously got ad- the hallmark of coaches like Al Sadd is a team with just the The team’s pretty much ready sire to hoard the ball key to I want is for my team to have myself is that when I started miration for every coach that’s Klopp, Simeone and Guardiola, right mix of experience and for the World Cup and they’re his coaching ethos. FIFA.com control and I think you have out as a coach I didn’t think so gone in and changed a club. each of whom have their own youth. We’ve got the best ever competing very well because sat down with Xavi to talk past that when you have the ball. much about the defensive side It’s pretty clear that [Diego] style and way of playing, is re- generation of Qatari players they have a great coach in Felix glories, his present switch to That’s the way I was brought of the game.