Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 18 match against Umm Salal.

“It is an important clash for us. We are expected to officially win the league title. In this match, we can be the champions and this is our goal. We depend on ourselves to achieve this and we are happy to be in this position.

“We are playing at our home stadium and are favourites to win, but everyone knows that Umm Salal are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Their coach Aziz Ben Askar works well in defence and he leads a team that fights and plays as a group and they have not conceded many goals in the league.

“We suffered against them in the first leg match and we know it will be difficult because they need points and they are now in the relegation zone. So we expect them to close spaces in defence.

“We want to win the league without defeat and if we win the three points in this match, we will be the champions, and it is impossible for you to have a stronger motivation than this.

“The players are having fun and the team is having good moments. We won the 2021 Qatar Cup and we are in the semifinals of the Amir Cup. These are good moments and we should take advantage of them.

“We respect Umm Salal a lot as  they have a good coach and good foreign players, especially in the heart of the defense, and then in the front they have Hammoud and Kayke and they are two big players.

“It will be really difficult to score goals against this team. We are a team that plays to win and we are a big club in Qatar. In my opinion, we are the best team in the country at the moment. Our goal to win titles and enjoy playing football.

“When we started the season, everyone told us that our main goal was to win title. We got close to our goal and won many titles, but we have to continue and continue the journey like this.  

“We have to be in the best readiness. We need to focus and we need the same ambition and to continue in the same manner and certainly we have a larger group of players to win the league title and, God willing, the Amir Cup title also.” 

“We are happy because now we have a lot of fans in the stadium. We are playing on our ground and I hope that fans can have fun with the team,” said Xavi.

Al Sadd player Tarek Salman said, “We must win against Umm Salal. We are happy with our wins. A difficult and strong clash awaits us but we are excited to win. We could be crowned champions tomorrow. We hope the fans will attend, especially as it is a match that will give us the league title and it will be a great celebration in the presence of the fans who support the team.”