We believe in ourselves and know how important it’s to face Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico

Al Rayyan are a great team, but we’ll fight for the three points

Our fans are always there and I tell them we’re waiting for you at Khalifa International Stadium

We suffer from some absences, but will play with those who’re available

We’ll do our best in all matches to win and retain the title

Al Sadd and Qatar national team captain Hassan Al Haydous is one of the stars in the QNB Stars League. He had played a key role in The Wolves’ league triumph last season besides many achievements, most notably the 2011 AFC Champions League and also in all domestic championships.

Al Sadd have an all-win record in the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League, having beaten Al Sailiya and Qatar SC, and their next face-off is against Al Rayyan in Week 3, dubbed the Qatar Clasico. It is one of the thrillers much awaited by Qatari football fans, especially those of Al Sadd and Al Rayyan clubs.

In an Exclusive Interview with qsl.qa ahead of the signature match, Al Haydous spoke about a wide range of topics.

Excerpts:

How do you see the start of QNB Stars League in the new season?

A strong start to a new season. We thank God for winning the first two matches. We suffer from some absences, but will always play with those who’re available and our goal is to win every match we play.

What’re your expectations about the level of competition during the season?

The level of competition is always at the top and we’ll do our best in all matches in order to achieve victory and retain the league title, and also compete for all championships.

What’re the goals of Al Sadd this season?

Al Sadd always play for championships and since the first round, the entire team has been playing with one goal, which is to stay at the top in order to compete strongly for the QNB Stars League championship.

After the victories over Al Sailiya and Qatar SC, the next match will be against Al Rayyan. How do you see it?

Al Sadd vs Al Rayyan is among the most important matches in the league championship and it evokes great enthusiasm from Qatari football fans. It’s the Qatar Clasico and both teams want to win and make their fans happy. We, at Al Sadd, believe in ourselves and know how important the match is for us and we play to win.

Are Al Sadd able to win the match?

Al Rayyan are a great team with outstanding players, but we’ll enter the match with full force in order to win and collect three points.

The team currently has many absences... What’ll be their impact?

Certainly, we’re missing many important players, like Santi Cazorla, Saad Al Dossari and Abdelkarim Hassan, but the team can very well compensate for the absence of any player. We also have a number of promising young players with outstanding talents and it’s our responsibility as senior players to help hone their skills. More importantly, experienced players must offer all their potential and what they’ve in order for the young players to benefit from them.

What’re the main strengths of Al Sadd in the Qatar Clasico?

Al Sadd are a collective team and we play as a unit under coach Xavi (Hernandez) for the third consecutive season. The way the team plays is more important and if all players come good technically, we’ll perform strongly and win.

What do you say to Al Sadd fans ahead of the match?

I say to them that we’re expecting their support at the Khalifa International Stadium in the Qatar Clasico. We’ve a tough task on hand and the presence of fans will have an impact on the performance of players. Al Sadd fans are always behind the team.