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Raul: likes the atmosphere at Al Sadd |
The former Schalke player joined his new teammates here for the first time since signing his deal almost two months ago. “I feel very happy during my stay here. It is like joining a new family. I expect this to be an exciting and important time in my career. On the first day of training, I felt welcome by the group of players we have,” Raul said in Vienna where Al Sadd are having their summer camp.
“I like the atmosphere in the side,” he added. “I am looking to give my best so that I can help my team and my colleagues get more success on the pitch. It is a collective dream of ours,” Raul said.
The former Spanish great said he had sufficient information on football before he decided to play in Qatar.
“Yes, I had got good feedback on the game here. I also knew a fair bit about Al Sadd. They won the AFC Champions League title last year and then did well in the (FIFA) Club World Cup in Japan,” Raul pointed out.
“I was also helped by Fernando Hierro and Pep Guardiola who gave me the right information,” he said.
When asked about Al Sadd’s function as a club, Raul said the officials showed a high level of professionalism. Raul said he will play to win. “I hope I live up to the wishes of our fans. I will be happy to contribute to the team cause,” he said.
When reminded about his time with Real Madrid, Raul said: “It was one of the best times of my career. I was sad to leave the club because I had lost the fun of training and playing matches. So I decided to move though I still had one year remaining on my career.”
He added: “In general, I say that I was lucky because I played with a great generation of players. We won a lot of titles and I enjoyed my time with the club. I still maintain a very good relationship with Real Madrid.” Raul said he hadn’t decided when he would quit the game. “I feel I can still play and give my best. I haven’t decided anything on my football playing days,” he said.
How does he look at the achievements of the Spanish national team football? “I’m very happy with the historic achievements made by the Spanish team. They are the best side in the world,” Raul said. When asked about his favourite players, Raul said: “I was impressed with many including Roberto Baggio and Marco Van Basten. They were great players.”