AFC Champions League: AFC Highlights Qatari Teams Stars

Kuala Lumpur, April 06 (QNA) - The Asian Football Confederation highlighted the stars of Al Sadd, Al Rayyan and Al Duhail teams in its report on the most prominent stars of the teams participating in the AFC Champions League for the new edition 2022, before the start of the group stage competitions in the Western Region. While highlighting the Spanish star Santi Cazorla, the star of Al Sadd, the Colombian James Rodriguez, the star of Al Rayyan, and the Belgian Toby Alderweireld, the star of Al Duhail, AFC touched on the most prominent stations of the trio during their football career full of giving and achievements. The AFC praised Al Sadd playmaker Santi Cazorla in his second participation in the tournament as an inspiring leader who combines style and determination in the middle of the field AFC added that Cazorla is an inspirational leader combining style and grit in the middle of the pitch, Cazorla overcame an injury that threatened to not allow him to walk again, to come back and play top level football with over 10 operations in between. The former Arsenal and Villarreal midfielder has taken part in the previous two editions of the competition, with varying degrees of success. On the personal level, he managed four goals and three assists in 10 matches, but Al Sadd bowed out from the group stage in 2021, while 2020 saw Persepolis knock them out in the Round of 16. Cazorla pitched in with six goals and eight assists for Al Sadd on route to the Qatar Stars League title that saw them win 20 of the 22 matches, drawing the other two. This is the kind of form they will hope to carry into the AFC Champions League to avoid a repeat of what happened last season. The AFC spoke in its report about James Rodriguez, the attacking midfielder for Al Rayyan club, who is participating for the first time in the tournament, saying that: the former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco, FC Porto and Everton playmaker needs little introduction, and his move last summer to Al Rayyan will have piqued the interest of followers of football across the globe. Rodriguez has two UEFA Champions League winners medals in his cabinet and 59 appearances to show for his eight campaigns. The Colombian had a positive debut season in the Qatar Stars League having scored four goals and assisted seven in 12 appearances despite his teams struggles as they finished eighth in the 12-team competition. With Al Rayyan in Group A, Rodriguez can look forward to showdowns with players such as Bernard, Caio, Salem Al Dawsari, Matheus Pereira and Manuchekhr Dzhalilov. The last four times Al Rayyan participated in the AFC Champions League they were knocked out of the Group Stage - something Rodriguez and co will have at the back of their minds as they take on Al Hilal SFC, Istiklol, and Sharjah. About the first participant in the AFC Champions League, Belgian international defender Toby Alderweireld, captain of Al Duhail team, the AFC spoke: A La Liga winner back in the day with Atletico Madrid, a UEFA Champions League runner-up with Tottenham Hotspur, and a bronze World Cup medalist - they do not come much better than Toby Alderweireld in terms of experience and credentials. The Belgian centre-back will make the foray into Asias top competition on the back of 78 appearances in both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. While not the one to be judged by goals and assists, Alderweirelds defensive and disciplinary records reign supreme above most of his peers; he has never been sent off in his career, a testament to his positioning in the defensive third as well as his tackling ability. Al Duhail came second in the Qatar Stars League this season, but with the legendary Argentinian Hernan Crespo now at the helm, Alderweireld now has a cultured coach to guide him and his teammates past the group stage for the first time since 2019, and to potentially better their best finish: Quarter-final appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2018. (QNA)