We need to improve our performance, says Xavi

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd coach Xavi lauded his players but also said they need to improve their performance after their 4-1 win over Al Wakrah in the opening round of the QNB Stars League on Wednesday.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Xavi said: “It was a really tough match against a strong team. They have a good coach who made the team very organised. We struggled with the high pressure in the first half.”

“The sending-off of the Wakrah player (Ali Malolah Karami) gave us an advantage. We managed to control possession against an organized team. (But) It will be tough to defeat Wakrah in the league.”

“I am happy with the performance of the players. We pressed forward and came up on top in the second half, especially as we were 11 against 10. We need to improve our performance further in the upcoming games.”

The coach also spoke about Akram Afif’s withdrawal: “Afif felt some pain in his back and will undergo additional medical tests tomorrow to know the extent of the injury. I wanted to take him off so that we could preserve him; he is a crucial player for the team.”

Finally, Xavi added: “This game was a good test for the upcoming game against Al Nassr in the Champions League, as it will be a tough match in an intense atmosphere. We will prepare well for it. Our goal is to reach the semifinal.”