Hamed Ismail: We were left shocked after the Asian exit

Al-Sadd player Hamed Ismail spoke of how the exit from the AFC Champions League affected the players’ performance in the QSL.

Speaking ahead of the Round 10 game against Qatar SC, Hamed said: “The exit from the Champions League had a huge effect on us. The team is trying to perform at its best. We were left shocked after the defeat to Al-Hilal and this affected us against Al-Duhail, when we did not perform up to the level that was required, except for the first half an hour.”

He added: “The game against Qatar is difficult. The players know the importance of this game for the team. We are aiming to turn up with the performance that we are known for, with the character of the champions, as we look to get the win.”

As for the club president’s visit on Wednesday, Hamed said: “The visit by the president gave us a huge boost, showing us how much the management cares about the players. Our goal now is to achieve positive results and win all the titles.”