Guilerme: 2022 World Cup and Xavi brought me to Qatar… Aspetar is excellent

Al Sadd’s Brazilian midfielder Guilerme has confessed that one of the reasons why he decided to join the club was the fact that Qatar will be hosting the next edition of the World Cup. Apart from the country's impressive World Cup venues, architectural word of art, Qatar caters for every need in this latest stage of his career and best of all, it presented a unique chance to work under Al Sadd coach Xavi – another key motive for signing for the 14-time Qatar Stars League winners.

Guilherme impressed with World Cup venues and Aspetar

Talking to Qatari broadcaster Al Kass Sports Channel, Guilerme explained: “Qatar 2022 was one of the principal reasons I decided to come to Qatar. I am very happy to have come here and to be able to play in incredible, World Cup-standard stadiums which are as impressive as the big stadiums in Europe. Also, Qatar deserves credit and thanks for all that they are doing to organise what will be an amazing World Cup. I was very impressed by the Aspetar Sports Medicine and orthopaedic hospital – which is an excellent hospital which boasts a different infrastructure to any of the hospitals I have visited during my career. And also it is wonderful to be able to play for one of the country’s great clubs, Al Sadd – a club where football legends like Xavi Hernández, who is now the coach and former Atlético Madrid captain Gabi have played”.

The Brazilian went on to add, “Xavi helped me to settle in from the first day. He was another factor in my decision to come to Qatar. Xavi telephoned me and told me that he was keen for me to come and play for Al Sadd. So Xavi was one of the main reasons that I accepted a move to Doha. When he contacted me, I didn’t mention it to anyone but once talks started to advance, I discussed it with Youssef El-Arabi , a team mate and former international who had played in Qatar for Al-Duhail. He told me that I should accept the offer because it was a great opportunity for me”.

Al Sadd used to the pressure

As for the pressure which he is under at new club Al Sadd, Guilerme said, “Of course playing for a big club like Al Sadd comes with pressure. I came here to win every trophy possible and the Qatari league title. So I know that we will face a lot of pressure but the team is experienced enough to be able to handle all kinds of pressure and convert it into motives to win. We have some very tough rivals in the Qatari league and we know that we have to focus on making as few mistakes as possible”.

Guillermo concluded, “I have worked under Tite, who is now coach of the Brazil national team – he is a coach who loves winning trophies so Brazil have a good chance of winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Of course, Brazil will face tough competition in Qatar but we have players like Neymar, one of the three best players in the world whose objective is to win the Champions League with PSG. It’s a dream for many players to play at Qatar 2022, and if I am lucky enough to get the chance to play at a World Cup then of course I would be really, really happy”.