Al Sadd's coach Bruno Miguel (centre) speaks during a press conference yesterday. Al Sadd's striker Baghdad Bounedjah (left) is also present.
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd's Portuguese coach, Bruno Miguel, expressed the crucial role the King Salman Club Cup will play in their season preparations as the Qatar football giants take on Morocco's Wydad to kick off the Group B campaign today.
On the eve of the match, which will be played at the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese tactician emphasised the tournament's significance as a launchpad for their season.
"We are pleased to be part of this tournament. It holds great importance at the beginning of the season, aiding us in achieving peak performance throughout the season," Miguel said during a pre-match press conference.
The Portuguese coach continued, "As the coach of Al Sadd, my goal is to lead the team to win and compete for the title. Our technical and physical readiness is not yet at its peak, having had only six or seven training sessions at most."
"Our mentality drives us to win and compete, and most clubs share the same determination. However, the tournament also serves as a crucial preparation stage for us, especially with a challenging upcoming season," coach Miguel asserted, pointing out that most clubs share a similar sentiment.
Al Sadd's new recruit, Moroccan defender Romain Saiss (left) with a teammate during a training session.
Admitting the team's current limitations with some players carrying injuries and others still in recovery, Miguel remained optimistic about their progress. "The team's level will develop for the better from one match to another," he said.
"The team may not be in its best form for the tournament, given some injuries and also players who are not fully fit. However, I am confident that the team's performance will improve with each match," Miguel said.
Regarding the addition of Moroccan defender Romain Saiss to the squad, Miguel lauded the player's skills and vast experience.
The Morocco international joined the Wolves on a two-year contract after leaving Turkish club Besiktas. However, Miguel emphasised that Al Sadd's success doesn't rely on any individual player but rather on the collective strength and unity of the team.
Meanwhile, Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah noted the challenge of facing Wydad. "Wydad is one of the top Arab and African teams, boasting high-level players. We had a competitive friendly match against Raja Casablanca in Doha, during which we displayed a strong performance, preparing us well for this tournament," the Algerian said.
"We are fully aware of Wydad's players' capabilities. At Al Sadd, we approach every match with a winning mentality, knowing that it's the small details that will decide the game. I hope the match will be of high quality," Bounedjah said.
The match kicks off at 4:00 pm. The other match in the same group will be between Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Ahli Tripoli of Libya.
