Qatar coach Felix Sanchez is happy for his team to be labelled favourites in today’s Asian Cup semi-final against host the United Arab Emirates — and has backed his players to silence the haters once more. Qatar’s run to their first Asian Cup semi-final is all the more remarkable given the abuse hurled at them by local crowds, but Sanchez insisted the 2022 World Cup hosts would welcome the pressure in a politically charged clash.
“The players are aware that there’s pressure but they’re dealing with it very well,” the Spaniard said yesterday. “We are more confident under pressure.”
The Saudi-led blockade of Qatar has robbed Sanchez’s team of travelling support. Even several Omanis who have bravely turned up to cheer Qatar on are likely to find all of the tickets for the semi-final have been distributed to local fans.
“Up to this point it has been very demanding for us,” admitted Sanchez, whose side stunned Son Heung-min’s South Korea 1-0 in the quarter-finals. “But this group of players are mentally strong,” added the 43-year-old, who took over as head coach 18 months ago but has been involved with the current crop of players since 2006.
“They’ve proven they can compete against the best teams in Asia and they’re still ambitious — they want to keep going.” The winners will take on Japan, who defeated Iran 3-0 in the first semi-final yesterday. The final will be played on February 1.
“The team, I believe, has coped very well with the situation so far. Of course, all of us know there is added pressure because it is the semi-final, but I think we are feeling confident rather than under pressure ahead of the match,” added Sanchez.
“It is a very big game for us, and we are very pleased to be in the semi-finals of this very important tournament. Hopefully against the UAE we are going to play to our strengths and try to do our very best to continue [even further] in the competition.
“The players are looking forward to the game, and their results up until now show that this group are mentally very strong. My squad is ambitious, and they want to keep going. It has not been easy to keep getting the results we have done game after game, but hopefully in the semi-final we can perform well again and reach the final.”
Qatar will be missing Abdelaziz Hatim and Bassam al-Rawi through suspension, but have Abdelkarim Hassan and Assim Madibo available once again after the duo served a one-match ban during the quarter-final win over Korea Republic.
While wary of the threat the UAE will pose, Sanchez is adamant that his players are fully prepared for what is sure to be another stern test in front of a full house at Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium. “As I have said previously it is normal to be missing players at this stage of a competition,” he said. “The key point for us is that everyone is ready and waiting to play and to help the team in the process.
Meanwhile, UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni also praised Qatar. “They are an outstanding side who haven’t conceded a goal yet,” said the Italian, who steered Japan to a record fourth Asian Cup title in 2011.
“Their results, even before the Asian Cup, were excellent. They are solid in all departments but they have some dangerous individuals too. “They’ve been together for many years,” noted the former AC Milan and Lazio boss.
“And that stability is a source of great strength for them.”
Members of the Qatar squad are all smiles as they are led by Abdelkarim Hassan during a training session in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
