ABU DHABI (AFP) - Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday (Feb 1) after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf.
Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title in their history, beating Japan 3-1 in the final.
Ali said he saw shades of Manchester City's Guardiola in Sanchez, who coached Barcelona's youth players before joining Qatar's national academy in 2006 and working his way through the ranks.
"I've been working with him for nine years, he's highly intelligent," said the 21-year-old striker.
"I compare him to Guardiola because he has the same ideas."
But Sanchez told AFP that Ali only made the comment "because I'm there (listening) and he wants to keep playing".
"I've worked with Almoez for a very long time and we have good relationship," the Spaniard said.
"He's very easy to coach because he's a hard worker and he deserves everything that has happened to him in this tournament."
Â
Â
Â
Qatar upset former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea on their march to the final, but those weren't the only challenges they faced.
The Qataris were pelted with shoes and plastic bottles by a hostile home crowd as they beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in the semi-finals.
The UAE then lodged a protest over the eligibility of Ali and defender Bassam Al-Rawi which was dismissed just hours before the final.
Sanchez insisted he had "no concerns" about the eligibility row and also dismissed speculation that notoriously trigger-happy Qatar might replace him with a big-name coach before the World Cup.
"I'm very proud to be the Qatar national team coach. Today we made history. I'm only thinking about today. It's a great day for me and the players and the country," Sanchez said.
"There's always news about this person and that person but we're focused on our work and we have the full support of the QFA.
"So no concerns about the World Cup, it's in 2022 and you don't even know what's going to happen in two weeks."
Solid and smart Bayern hold Liverpool at Anfield Champions League experience and quality organisation as they held Liverpool to a goalless draw in the first leg of their last 16 match at
Liverpool vs Bayern Munich: Solid Bayern hold Liverpool to 0
Unai Emery insists Mesut Ozil still has a future at Arsenal despite leaving the midfielder out of the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham. Ozil watched from the stands as Arsenal lost 2
Mesut Ozil: Arsenal manager Unai Emery says midfielder has a
Gianluigi Buffon will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after it was agreed to not renew the former Italy captain's contract, the French champions announced on Wednesday. World Cup winner
World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon to leave PSG | Football
> Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot. Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot. Published: match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, at
LONDON (REUTERS) - Defender Jan Vertonghen scored once and set up another goal for Son Heung-min as Tottenham Hotspur beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday (Feb 13) to give them the clear edge following the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie.
Vertonghen shines as Tottenham beat Dortmund 3-0 - Football
Europa League semi-finals confirmed: Arsenal vs Valencia, Chelsea vs Eintracht Frankfurt Arsenal vs Valencia; But Arsenal coach Unai Emery knows he must field his strongest XI if he wants
Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino (Reuters) Spurs lost 4-3 in a classic encounter against City in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg, but went through on away goals
Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino
Solskjaer aims thinly-veiled dig at Jose over 'stupid' tactics. Date published: Tuesday 15th January 2019 8:20. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemed to take a dig at Jose Mourinho over his tactics
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be favourite to be named Manchester United manager next season because he has restored the club's "culture and identity" after being put in caretaker charge, according to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says
inewstoday.net/2019/03/solskjaer-has-restored-uniteds-culture-and-identity-says/
Solskjaer has restored United's culture and identity, says former treble teammate Schmeichel. Ross Houston. Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.
Solskjaer has restored Man United identity, says Schmeichel
TOTTENHAM AND PALACE FANS REACT: Spurs to Host The Eagles in First League Game at the New Stadium * Tottenham will play Crystal Palace in their first Premier League game at the new stadium
First Game At New Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur To Play Crystal
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp. Despite doubts over key West Ham players such as midfielder Samir Nasri, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is still expecting to face "a really good football team".
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp - theworldnews.net
Barcelona and Real Madrid played to a tense, spirited draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal, with younger talents rising to the occasion in place of established stars and the
Barca boss Valverde sweating over injured stars - SA Breaking
Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Group E - Canada v Cameroon - Stade de La Mosson, Montpellier, France - June 10, 2019 Canada's Kadeisha Buchanan scores their first goal REUTERS/Eric Gaillard MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Defender Kadeisha Buchanan scored on the stroke of halftime to hand Canada a winning start to the women's […]
Buchanan goal hands Canada slender 1-0 win over Cameroon
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar