PSV Eindhoven’s head coach Mark van Bommel has praised the work of Aspire Zone, saying that the professionalism of the sports sector in Qatar has made him excited for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Van Bommel, who has brought PSV Eindhoven to Doha for winter training at Aspire Zone’s world-class facilities, took time out to speak to the media yesterday about his team, the Asian Cup 2019, and what he expects to come in 2022, when Qatar hosts the first World Cup to be held in an Arab state.
Excerpts
On Aspire Zone and training in Qatar: For our winter camp, we have to come to Qatar during the winter season in Europe and benefit from the awesome world-class facilities at Aspire Zone. The hotel is luxurious, food is good, weather is perfect, and the beaches in Qatar are outstanding.
On PSV winning the Dutch Eredivisie Champions League this year: It won’t be easy because we won a lot of games, 16 out of 17. It will be a tight game until the end with a lot of intense games. We have to go to Amsterdam, we tried to win all the games, almost every game but that is almost impossible.
On club’s offer to Bayern’s Arjen Robben: I can confirm that we haven’t made a formal offer, but I have asked him if he wants to join.
On discussions with former Dutch star Wesley Sneijder about their experience in Qatar’s league: Yes of course, I spoke with Sneijder and Nigel de Young and saw them for a couple of times this week. It was nice to speak with a lot of players that I played with and they are really happy to be here to be part in the competition league also with Xavi and they want to stay. That means that you want to be here.
On Xavi Hernandez, as he will finish his career as a player this season and going to be a coach: As a player I loved to play with him. I played one year with Xavi – unfortunately he had an injury in the second half of the season. But if you talk about Xavi, everybody is talking very well about his football qualities and his leadership. It is difficult to predict how he will be as a coach but if you see his way of playing on the middle of the pitch and his leadership I it is possible that he will be a very good coach.
On the ongoing preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar: I think it will be a spectacular event as we can see the pitches and the stadiums. If the professionalism we have seen at Aspire Zone is anything to go by, I am expecting big things in 2022.”