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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
All eyes will be on the defending champions Al Sadd as the 2019/20 QNB Stars League kicks off on Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium.
The Wolves are on a high, having lifted the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup defeating Al Duhail 1-0 last Saturday. Al Sadd’s positive start to Xavi Hernandez’s first coaching stint has seen them qualify for the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League.
With several changes made by teams over the summer, the new league season promises an exciting campaign particularly with the likes of Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Al Arabi going through a transition period. Al Rayyan have brought in former coach Diego Aguirre who is tasked with returning the club back to winning ways after they shockingly failed to qualify for the AFC Champions League group phase.
For Al Gharafa, former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has been charged with reforming the seven-time league champions. While Al Arabi have added quality players to Heimir Hallgrimsson side.
Al Sadd however, despite all the momentum going into the season know complacency would be their greatest enemy. Last year, the Wolves were a class above all, dominating their rivals and hitting a landmark goal margin with 100 goals as both Baghdad Bounedjah and Akram Afif had career seasons under then coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
The record Qatar league champions will begin their title defence against newcomers and last year’s second division champions Al Wakrah. The Wolves will be without striker Bounedjah due to suspension and the injured Nam Tae-hee
“Al Wakrah are a very strong team, with great local and professional players,” Xavi told the media on Tuesday.
“We will play at home and we have studied our opponents. Hopefully there will be no surprises, especially as we are expected favorites to win. To start the league well will be very important for our season,” he added.
“All the clubs have added more quality this season through new signings and early season preparations.
“For us, we are always under pressure. I am a positive man and I know that the pressure will help us to compete and win titles. We have so many quality players on our team, we will rely on all of them,” the Spaniard said.
Coached by another Spaniard Marquez Lopez, Al Wakrah will be eager to make a strong start on their top flight return.
“Our task is difficult because we’re coming from the Second Division and we’re facing reigning QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd first. We worked to prepare for this match with the players physically and psychologically, and we hope to bring out our best,” said Lopez.
“We’re waiting for a difficult game against Al Sadd, who are a well-known team that always achieves positive results.”
The Barcelona-born former Espanyol and Eupen coach believes his team can hold their own this season.
“We’ve players who were with us last season and they know very well what I seek from them. There are new players in the team and they also know about our strategy. There’ll some changes according to the requirements of matches and that’s normal. We can deal with it.”Al Duhail coach Rui Faria will be hoping for a strong start as the 2019 Amir Cup winners take on Qatar SC at the Al Janoub Stadium in Wakrah. Faria saw his team suffer back-to-back losses to Al Sadd in the ACL and Sheikh Jassim Cup.
The Portuguese has said his team will compete hard despite the absence of some notable stars.
“We will begin a new championship and we have prepared well to have a good run.
“Some players are absent, but we will have 11 players in the stadium that will present their best to win the maximum points.”
Duhail will be without Louis Martin, Assem Madibo (both red card), Mohamed Moussa, Ahmed Yasser (suspension) and Mehdi Benatia who is out recovering after undergoing knee surgery.
Doha
All eyes will be on the defending champions Al Sadd as the 2019/20 QNB Stars League kicks off on Wednesday at the Jassim Bin Hamad (Al Sadd) Stadium.
The Wolves are on a high, having lifted the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup defeating Al Duhail 1-0 last Saturday. Al Sadd’s positive start to Xavi Hernandez’s first coaching stint has seen them qualify for the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League.
With several changes made by teams over the summer, the new league season promises an exciting campaign particularly with the likes of Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa and Al Arabi going through a transition period. Al Rayyan have brought in former coach Diego Aguirre who is tasked with returning the club back to winning ways after they shockingly failed to qualify for the AFC Champions League group phase.
For Al Gharafa, former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has been charged with reforming the seven-time league champions. While Al Arabi have added quality players to Heimir Hallgrimsson side.
Al Sadd however, despite all the momentum going into the season know complacency would be their greatest enemy. Last year, the Wolves were a class above all, dominating their rivals and hitting a landmark goal margin with 100 goals as both Baghdad Bounedjah and Akram Afif had career seasons under then coach Jesualdo Ferreira.
The record Qatar league champions will begin their title defence against newcomers and last year’s second division champions Al Wakrah. The Wolves will be without striker Bounedjah due to suspension and the injured Nam Tae-hee
“Al Wakrah are a very strong team, with great local and professional players,” Xavi told the media on Tuesday.
“We will play at home and we have studied our opponents. Hopefully there will be no surprises, especially as we are expected favorites to win. To start the league well will be very important for our season,” he added.
“All the clubs have added more quality this season through new signings and early season preparations.
“For us, we are always under pressure. I am a positive man and I know that the pressure will help us to compete and win titles. We have so many quality players on our team, we will rely on all of them,” the Spaniard said.
Coached by another Spaniard Marquez Lopez, Al Wakrah will be eager to make a strong start on their top flight return.
“Our task is difficult because we’re coming from the Second Division and we’re facing reigning QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd first. We worked to prepare for this match with the players physically and psychologically, and we hope to bring out our best,” said Lopez.
“We’re waiting for a difficult game against Al Sadd, who are a well-known team that always achieves positive results.”
The Barcelona-born former Espanyol and Eupen coach believes his team can hold their own this season.
“We’ve players who were with us last season and they know very well what I seek from them. There are new players in the team and they also know about our strategy. There’ll some changes according to the requirements of matches and that’s normal. We can deal with it.”Al Duhail coach Rui Faria will be hoping for a strong start as the 2019 Amir Cup winners take on Qatar SC at the Al Janoub Stadium in Wakrah. Faria saw his team suffer back-to-back losses to Al Sadd in the ACL and Sheikh Jassim Cup.
The Portuguese has said his team will compete hard despite the absence of some notable stars.
“We will begin a new championship and we have prepared well to have a good run.
“Some players are absent, but we will have 11 players in the stadium that will present their best to win the maximum points.”
Duhail will be without Louis Martin, Assem Madibo (both red card), Mohamed Moussa, Ahmed Yasser (suspension) and Mehdi Benatia who is out recovering after undergoing knee surgery.
