Persepolis’ goalkeeper Hamed Lak (right) grabs the ball ahead of Sadd’s forward Baghdad Bounedjah during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match, played at the Education Stadium yesterday
Doha: Al Sadd's Spanish great Xavi Hernandez yesterday expressed his disappointment for the club fans after his team's 2020 ACL campaign ended yesterday. The former champions Al Sadd suffered a 1-0 loss in the hands of Iran's Persepolis in the pre-quarter final at the Education City Stadium.
“I feel very sad. This was a good chance to qualify,” the Barcelona legend told Al Sadd's web site after the match yesterday. Issa Alkasir's 88th minute header sealed a berth in the quarter-finals for the Iranian side yesterday.
“We are really disappointed, for the fans, and for the club. Of course, we didn’t deserve to go home. But this is the score. You must want to take revenge all the time. This is the way,” Xavi said. Despite the outcome of the match, Xavi said both teams played equally well.
“I think the game was really equal. We had more possession, more shots and better opportunities, but as I told the players, in this competition you make just one mistake and you’re out,” the former Al Sadd captain turned coach Xavi said.
“We must accept the reality, we lost today because of small details. We were controlling the game and created enough chances to score, we had many shots from outside the box, and many corners. In my opinion, we were better than Persepolis in footballing terms, but we are out because of a small detail. We have to accept that, and continue. It’s a pity because after a game like that, normally you have to win. Sometimes, football is not fair,” Xavi said.
“It’s a matter of mistakes. We have to control the details. This is football. It would have changed the result if we had scored one goal. I think we were a bit better than the opponent, but we are out. We have to accept it. We have to congratulate the other team. This is sport,” Xavi said.
Xavi, however, regretted VAR technology was not in use for the championship.
"In my humble opinion, it’s a big shame that this competition, the best in Asia, does not have VAR. It’s a big shame,” Xavi said.
An appeal for a penalty was denied after Al Sadd's Pedro Miguel was brought down in the box. It was a golden opportunity for Al Sadd to open the goal account. Xavi said it was unfair.
"Everybody saw what happened and it’s really unfair. This is the truth, and the main reason is because we didn’t have VAR. With VAR, everybody can see on the TV. What can I say? I cannot add anything. This is the truth," Xavi said.
“If we had VAR today, there would be a penalty for us. I don’t want to talk about referees because I know that their job is really difficult, and sometimes football is very fast, and you have to make decisions in seconds. But VAR helps the referees a lot. If we had VAR today, we would be talking about a different result.”
“The best competition in Asia deserves the best conditions to play, and today we didn’t have that,” a dejected Xavi added. Al Sadd's skipper Hassan Al Haydos yesterday said he and his team-mates apologize to the loyal Wolves fans and will do their best in the upcoming challenges.
“All the players wished to reach the farthest stage in the Champions League. We had ambitions and a big dream, but unfortunately we did not succeed in this match against Persepolis,” Al Haydos said.
He added: “We apologise to our fans who had placed great hopes in us for this tournament and the loss is painful. In such matches, there are small details that settle things in the end, and this is what happened.” "Everyone bears responsibility and I am the first to take responsibility. We promise our fans that we will do our best in the upcoming challenges,” Al Haydos said.
