Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Barcelona: Qatar international and AFC Asian Cup 2019 winner Boualem Khoukhi has set his sights on claiming this season’s AFC Champions League title after joining his Al Sadd SC teammates for pre-season training in Spain.
The recent subject of an on-off transfer to domestic rivals Al Gharafa, Khoukhi arrived in Europe at the weekend determined to focus on his side’s upcoming AFC Champions League Round of 16 tie against Al Duhail SC.
With the two-legged Continental showdown set to start next week, Khoukhi has been quick to outline his targets for the competition and the positive impact he believes new head coach Xavi will have on his charges.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/xavi_-_al_sadd_head_coach_-_club_credit.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Spain and Barcelona great Xavi has declared that he is looking to repeat the incredible success he enjoyed as a player in his new role as head coach of Qatar giants Al Sadd SC.
The two-time FIFA World Cup winner retired from competitive football in May following a stellar career which also saw him claim a plethora of Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League crowns.
Having bowed out on a high thanks to 2018-19 Qatar Stars League title success as a player with Al Sadd, the 39-year-old is adamant that his thirst for silverware remains the same as his charges prepare for a new domestic campaign and knockout stage action in the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-final lineup was finalised following the official draw ceremony at the AFC House on Tuesday.
Defending champions Kashima Antlers, aiming to create history by becoming the first Japanese side to win back-to-back titles, will face two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande FC from China PR.
Guangzhou, who have not gone beyond the quarter-final stage since 2015, will welcome Kashima on August 28 before travelling to Japan on September 18.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd SC have named Spain and Barcelona great Xavi as head coach on a two-year contract.
FIFA World Cup winner Xavi, who played his last competitive match in a 2019 AFC Champions League tie against Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis on May 20, had announced his retirement on May 2.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: With a new season in Qatar looming large, and knockout stage action in the AFC Champions League set to resume next week, Al Duhail SC star and AFC Asian Cup 2019 winner Almoez Ali has declared that both he and his teammates are fully focused on winning as much silverware as possible in the weeks and months to come.
Al Duhail are scheduled to meet rivals Al Sadd SC over two legs in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 on August 6 and 13, before facing the same opponents when their latest domestic campaign gets underway with the Qatari Super Cup on August 17.
Despite the hectic nature of football’s modern-day calendar, Ali has targetted nothing but success for the side which finished as runners-up to Al Sadd in last season’s Qatar Stars League standings, but exacted a degree of revenge by comprehensively claiming the Amir of Qatar Cup title.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Villach: Al Hilal SFC’s pre-season tour of Europe ended in fine fashion on Wednesday as two separate sides representing the Saudi giants secured impressive victories.
In the day’s earlier game, Jonathan Soriano’s brace along with goals from Mohammed Al Shalhoub, Nasser Al Dawsari, Omar Khrbin, Hatan Bahbri and Ahmad Sharaf saw a largely second-string Al Hilal side run out 7-1 winners against NK Brine Grosuplje who play in Slovenia’s third tier.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Kashima Antlers will be targeting revenge when they face Guangzhou Evergrande in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League, with Shoma Doi determined to turn the tables on the Chinese side following elimination by the same opponents in the 2017 edition.
Doi played in both legs when Kashima slid out at the Round of 16 phase at the hands of the Chinese Super League club – and two-time AFC Champions League winners – as Antlers continued a dismal record of failing to advance to the last eight for the fourth time since 2009.
But, with their confidence since boosted by their first-ever title win last year, Doi is convinced he and his teammates can avenge that loss and keep alive their dream of claiming back-to-back AFC Champions League crowns.