DOHA — When Al-Sadd wrapped up a second straight
Qatar title by stretching their unbeaten league run to 49 games, they were inevitably
dubbed the “Invincibles” after another team that reached the same number.
اضافة اعلان
While the 12-team Qatar League is not as formidable as the
2003–4 English Premier league, unlike
Arsenal, Al-Sadd have turned their run
into two league titles in a championship loaded with millionaire imports.
Their form has inspired hopes for the national team in the
country that is hosting the World Cup.
Al-Sadd's squad contains the bulk of Qatar's national side,
as well as a former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla and ex-Premier League regular
Andre Ayew.
Run by owners with seemingly bottomless pockets and training
on manicured turf in
Doha's notorious heat, Al-Sadd have swept aside rivals
featuring the likes of Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld at Al-Duhail and Colombian
James Rodriguez at Al-Rayyan.
Alderweireld's side beat Al-SaLeagues week in the
Amir's Cup, the top domestic knockout. Al-Rayyan, however, got rid of former France
coach Laurent Blanc last month because they could not compete in the 12-team
Qatar Stars League.
Al-Sadd coach Javi Gracia, battle-hardened at Watford in
England and Valencia in Spain before taking over when Xavi Hernandez returned
to Barcelona in November, said his players had "achieved something very
special".
Cazorla, who spent six seasons at Arsenal, said Al-Sadd's
streak dating back to March 2020 was simply "historic".
Having equaled Arsenal's unbeaten run, the Qataris see
nothing stopping them from getting past AC Milan's 58-game streak in Italy in
1991–93 and Celtic's 69 games in 2016–2017 in Scotland. Romania's Steaua
Bucharest went unbeaten for 104 league matches from 1985 to 1989.
"The Wolves", as they are known, see their home
success as a launchpad for the Asian Champions League starting in April, and
the World Cup that Qatar will host in November–December.
'Good for club and country'
Defender Tarek Salman said he felt he was part of a
"golden generation" at Al-Sadd along with national captain Hassan
Al-Haydos and the foreign contingent.
"Most of Al-Sadd's players are internationals and this
(success) stimulates enthusiasm, courage, and the desire to be fully ready for
the World Cup," the 24-year-old told AFP.
Al-Sadd players make up about three-quarters of the national
side. Salman said this was "good for club and country" as they have
developed a deep understanding over the years.
Qatar, winners of the
Asian Cup in 2019, face growing
expectations to at least get past the first round in this year's World Cup,
their debut on football's biggest stage.
As for Al-Sadd, Salman is looking even further ahead to a
third straight Qatar title "even if, God forbid, there was a defeat,"
as well as the Asian Champions League.
The difference between Al-Sadd and others is that Al-Sadd is smart and has good elements that know how to develop players and take them to a level that distinguishes them from other teams.
Al-Sadd won the Asian title in 2011 but failed in the early
stages in the last two years. Salman repeated apologies made by the players and
vowed: "This year will be different."
He acknowledged there was envy from other clubs, after
criticism that Al-Sadd's success was undermining the Qatar championship.
But Salman highlighted how Al-Hilal have dominated the Saudi
Arabian league in recent years and won two of the past three Asian Champions
League titles.
In Qatar, "all clubs have resources and all clubs have
the power to buy and sell players.
"The difference between Al-Sadd and others is that Al-Sadd
is smart and has good elements that know how to develop players and take them
to a level that distinguishes them from other teams.”
"This superiority will be in our favor at the World Cup
because most of the players in the team are from Al-Sadd."
Muhammad Ghulam Al-Balushi, a product of the Al-Sadd system
who is now its sporting director, said the club's victories showed how it is
"a castle built for achievements and breaking records."
"It is no secret that most of the national players at
the World Cup will be from Al-Sadd, and this confirms that Al-Sadd prepares
players to be ready," he said, challenging other clubs to match Al-Sadd's
work-rate.”
"We lost the league two years ago, losing one or two
matches, with the same team we have now. But we came back, corrected the
mistakes and worked. Now we are getting results."
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