Claudinho in action during Al Sadd's pre-season training camp in Austria.
Doha, Qatar: Reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd are undergoing an intensive pre-season camp in Austria, where midfielder Claudinho says the squad has embraced new head coach Razvan Lucescu's ideas from the very start.
“Training has been very good. We are working very hard and also understanding the coach’s ideas since he arrived recently,” Claudinho said.
The camp runs until August 7 and involves 26 players, along with the full technical and administrative staff.
There is a mix of technical and physical sessions, and four friendly encounters to build match sharpness.
So far the Wolves have faced Czech side Sigma Olomouc and Shabab Al Ahly’s youth team, with two more warm-ups still to come before the squad heads back to Doha.
“We are working very hard so that we can reap the rewards during the season. Our goal is to be ready from the start and achieve the objectives we have set,” the Brazilian who joined the Qatar heavyweights in January last year, said.
Al Sadd retained the league title last season, and the ambitions haven’t shrunk one bit.
“Our objective is very clear. We want to become league champions again, fight for the QFA Cup and pursue our dreams in the AFC Champions League as well,” he said, adding that the club owes it to its fans to deliver.
“I think Al Sadd and the people of Qatar deserve to win this title. We are working hard to make that happen,” the 29-year-old midfielder added.
Al Sadd are not the only Qatari team training abroad.
Al Arabi are camped in Estepona, Spain until August 7, packing in five friendly matches alongside daily training.
Al Khor are in Izmit, Turkiye until August 2, and have added Portuguese winger Felipe Sousa from FC Porto and Jimmy Bombo from Al Shahaniya as they get ready for life back in the top flight.
Al Duhail are based in Amsterdam until August 10, hoping to mount a serious title push of their own.
Al Gharafa, in Slovakia, have endured mixed results in two friendlies so far - a 1-0 win over AS Trencin followed by a 2-1 loss to STK Samorin.
Al Rayyan, training in Spain, lost 1-0 to Albacete before drawing 3-3 with England’s Rochdale. Qatar SC, also in Spain, fell 3-0 to UCAM and then held Club Costa City goalless.
