Coach Xavi (second right) speaks to players and officials during a training session at the Al Sadd training pitch yesterday.
Al Sadd’s narrow defeat to Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final still bothers Xavi Hernandez and it appears only a victory against Espérance Sportive de Tunis today can console the ‘Wolves’ head coach.
The Qatar Stars League title-holders will lock horns with the African champions at the Khalifa International Stadium, hoping to seal fifth place and finish the prestigious tournament on a winning note.The match will kick off at 5:30pm today.
Al Sadd opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Oceania champions Hienghene Sport before being edged out by CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey 2-3 in a cliff hanger on Saturday.
“We were better than Monterrey in the last match, but we didn’t have luck on our side,” Xavi said on the eve of the match.
“We wanted to reach the semi-finals of this tournament but we couldn’t win the last match so we have to play for the fifth place. But we are still excited to finish this competition in the best way,” said the Barcelona legend.
In both their previous matches against Hienghene Sport and Monterrey, Al Sadd played controlled football and had a better share of ball possession, and Xavi felt his ‘Wolves’ are not very far away from best clubs in the world.
“I am happy with the performance of my players. I am proud of them. We are at the same level with Monterrey. We were better than them in the quarter-final. I think we are competing really well, we have to adjust some things and we are not away.”
Esperance Sportive de Tunis went out of the title race after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Asian champions Al Hilal, following a 73rd minute goal by French forward Bafetimbi Gomis, and Xavi said toppling the African players will be a tough task.
“They (ES Tunis) have good players like we have at Al Sadd. They are fighters and warriors, and have a very good coach. They are working very well and that is why they are here. They are the champions of Africa and we will have to work hard to beat them,” said Xavi.
Al Sadd star Abdelkarim Hassan yesterday said the players will give their best to delight home fans after the loss to Monterrey.
“We made mistakes but this is part of football. We will go into the match for a victory. Al Sadd players are working hard and hopefully we will start getting the desired results,” he said.
Al Sadd will be miss the services of goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari who has been ruled out of action for 10 days due to an injury he suffered during the match against Monterrey.
Meanwhile, fifth position will not be the only target for ES Tunis today as they seek an end of Arab clubs domination over the African sides.
“African teams are not winning against the Arab clubs for a long time. The reason may be they each have five to six professional players in the side, and then they have good infrastructure. But we are looking to break this record against Al Sadd (today),” ES Tunis Assistant coach Majdi Traore said yesterday.
“Al Sadd are a very strong side but we will play for victory. We played this match last time and we won,” he said.
“We played a good last match technically and only lost after a late goal. The players are in good state mentally and are determined to win this match to win fifth place,” said Traore.
ES Tunis goalkeeper Rami Jridi said: “Al Sadd are a tough side and it will be a difficult match. Al Sadd have a good history but we are also the African champions.”
