Pic: QSL/Twitter
Doha: Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez has highlighted the importance of Qatar Cup 2020 as they look to topple Al Rayyan in today's semi-final at the Al Sadd Stadium.
"The Qatar Cup 2020 is very important. We look forward to facing Al Rayyan in the semifinal as a final match. At Al Sadd, we want to win titles. Through training, we will work to achieve victory over Al Rayyan, who are clearly a better side this season under coach Diego Aguirre. Al Sadd players and coach are ready for this competition," Xavi said during a pre-match press conference..
“Al Rayyan have a strong offensive line. At the same time, our defense is improving from after every match. Al Rayyan have players in the caliber of (Yacine) Brahimi, Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria and Abdulaziz Hatem. We must be wary of them," Xavi said.
Al Sadd made it to the elite tournament featuring the top-four clubs in the league by topping the 2018-19 QNB Stars League table with 57 points. They had the most number of wins (18) and scored the most number of goals (100). The Wolves also had the least number of defeats (just the loss to Al Ahli in the first leg) and conceded the least number of goals (22), after runners-up Al Duhail (17).
Al Rayyan qualified for the Qatar Cup for the fourth time in a row by finishing fourth in the 2018-19 season with 37 points, behind Al Sadd, Al Duhail and Al Sailiya.
Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre said, “I like these kind of matches, where one team advances and the other exits. Cup matches are different and must be played with a different mentality from the league. Facing such a strong team as Al Sadd, you must use all your energies and give off your best.
“We played Al Sadd four months ago, I do not want to evaluate it. What concerns me is my team, so my focus is on what we offer to win against Al Sadd, which has not changed and it is a big and strong team,” Aguirre said ahead of the blockbuster semi-final.
