(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Coach Hussein Amute (pictured) yesterday said Al Sadd were deserving winners of the Emir Cup, saying his players showed they had class and were fighters.
Al Sadd beat Al Sailiya 3-0 in the final of the Emir Cup on Saturday to end their season with a trophy.
A goal apiece from Raul Gonzalez, Ibrahim Majed and Hasan Haydos did the trick for Al Sadd on Saturday
Watched by a capacity crowd at Khalifa International Stadium, the 2011 AFC Champions League winners struck goals at regular intervals to pick up their first trophy of the season.
"Of course I am happy with this win. I believe Al Sadd were deserving winners," Amute said during a TV programme. "My players showed that they are a classy unit and that they fight all the way," he added.
Al Sadd finished behind Lekhwiya and El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title race last month.
"I am honoured that His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated me as we lifted the trophy," Amute said. "I am the happiest coach right now. I was privileged to shake the hand of the Emir," he added. "It was not an easy game as the scorecard might suggest. Al Sailiya played a strong game, especially in the first half," Amute said.
"If (striker Mamouni) Dagano had scored in the first half, things could have been different. We managed to keep Dagano at bay," the Al Sadd coach said. "Dagano missing the penalty was the turning point."
Amute said Al Sadd winning the Emir Cup was a perfect answer to the team's critics. "This was a strong response to our critics, especially after we lost the QNB Cup (in March to Qatar SC)," he said.
"I think the trick in us doing well was our rotational policy. That move kept the players hungry and fresh," the Al Sadd coach said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Football Association (QFA) Vice President yesterday sang praises of Al Sadd after the Doha giants saved their season with one trophy - the Emir Cup triumph on Saturday.
Raul-led Al Sadd beat Al Sailiya 3-0 to win the Emir Cup, the country's most popular football tournament.
Saud Al Mohannadi, the QFA Vice President, said: "Al Sadd are deserving winners of the Emir Cup. We saw that Al Sailiya enjoyed a dream run this season, but Al Sadd were clearly the better side in the Emir Cup."
He added: "I thank the fans for turning up for the final. I am sure they enjoyed a great spectacle. It sure was an amazing final."
Al Mohannadi said: "The excitement witnessed in the match was expected as we had two quality sides keen to win the title. I believe Al Sadd's experience of playing the big events was clearly evident for everybody to see."
The QFA vice president said: "I would like to congratulate the organisers for putting up a good show. They did a splendid job of managing a top-class event."
The 2013-14 football season came to an end with the Emir Cup title clash.
The QSL sides will break for two months before resuming training for the launch of the new season in August this year.
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