(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Armstrong Vas | The Peninsula
Doha: Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernadez said his team will not be under pressure going into their FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match against CF Monterrey of Mexico at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium here today.
Xavi's side squeezed past Hienghene Sport of New Caledonia 3-1 in their previous match, with the unfancied OFC Champions League winners forcing extra time after a thrilling 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The Barcelona legend, who took over the reigns of the Qatar club earlier this year after serving as a player for four seasons with Al Sadd, said the Mexican club are favorites and thus the pressure will be in the opposite camp.
'It's a big game for us, we want to compete, we want to reach the semi-final, but we have in front of us, a very good team, said Xavi on the eve of the match.
'Monterrey are an unbelievable team, they are working really well especially with this new coach Antonio Mohamed. It will be very tough, very difficult but at least we want to compete, he added.
'In football, we never know what happens but we want to play very well, to show everybody our level. We want to play without pressure because the other day we felt too much pressure. But now it's different. I think they are the favourites and it means we don't have too much pressure now. We will play to win.
Al Sadd's players in action during a training session on the eve of today's FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match against CF Monterrey of Mexico. Pic: Anwar Sadath
Al Sadd were clearly the dominant side in their opening match with 36 attempts at goal, 20 corners and three efforts coming off the woodwork. This is how Al Sadd's stats read following their extra-time win over Hienghene Sport. But missed plenty of chances against the modest side from New Caledonia. They finally had the upper hand in extra time in the 120 struggle on the pitch.
But in the quarter-final, Xavi said he has full confidence in his players that they will raise their game by a few notches when they take the field against the Mexican giants.
The Spaniard said he had a pep talk with his strikers after the first round match in a bid to raise their confidence after missing a few chances in the earlier match.
'If you are making mistakes again and again your confidence is going down. So I try to say to them I trust them a lot, they have many capacities. We played well against Hienghène but it's part of the game that we also need to score.
'Sometimes if you are under pressure it's much more difficult to play football. So I try to say to them just enjoy and play football, I think this is the way, said Xavi.
'We are already analysing the videos of Liverpool and we have been preparing for the CF Monterrey long time ago, he added.
The Spanish tactician said he has full confidence in the team that they will win the quarter final match and he was already thinking about meeting Liverpool in the semi-final.
CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey are coming to Doha with unbeaten streak under new coach Antonio Mohamed and will be keen to extend it.
Monterrey manager Antonio Mohamed (left) speaks during a pre-match press conference in Doha on the eve of today's FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match against Al Sadd.
'We will do our best to go as far as possible, said Monterrey coach Mohamed.
Mohamed is relishing the opportunity to go up against Xavi.
'If Xavi the coach is 50 per cent as good as he was as a player, he is going to be really successful, Mohamed said.
'It's an honour to play against him, said the 49-year old Argentinian.
'We are fully prepared. We have adapted to the weather conditions in Qatar, we have the talent and desire and we dream about reaching the final, said Mohamed.
'I know he was the perfect player on and off the pitch. He was very talented. We have followed his team and he is making them emulate Barcelona's style.
'They control the ball and this is a challenge for us. We will test our will, our ability and the possibility to have the upper hand from a tactical point of view.
Mohamed said he had his eyes set on a potential match-up with Liverpool.
'To play Liverpool, we have to win. We have to win, if we don't then the Liverpool match doesn't exist. By saying that we're coming for everything, we are preparing everyone to compete.
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