DOHA (Qatar): Newly-crowned AFC Champions League champions Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia will be banking on their French striker Bafetimbi Gomis as they launch their campaign at the FIFA Club World Cup here on Saturday.
Hilal will take on Esperance Sportive de Tunis in their opening match on Saturday (December 14).
The 34-year-old top-scored at the Asian competition with 11 goals to emerge as the tournament’s best player.
“I worked hard on every level to score all these goals: technically, tactically and physically. The fitness coaches helped me a lot and thanks to my team-mates I ended up the AFC Champions League’s top scorer and best player,” Gomis told FIFA.com. “I’m fortunate to be playing with a generation of talented Saudi players.”
11 goals in Champions League
Of the 11 goals Gomis scored in Champions League, there is one that stands out: his strike in the second leg of the final.
“I was doubly happy in the final because I scored and won the title. The club have played three finals in recent years and came up short every time. In response, they decided to bring in some new players to win the Champions League, their main goal,” he added.
Hilal’s reward for their continental triumph earned them a place at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“It’s a great tournament and Hilal belong there. The champions of every continent will be taking part and that’s why we will prepare well, to be the best representative of Saudi football that we can be,” Gomis said.
Gomis keen to play final Liverpool in final
Hilal are the first Arab team to claim the Asian crown since Qatar’s Al Sadd Sports Club in 2011.
On tomorrow’s match against Tunis, he added, “We will focus on one match at a time. First, we should only be thinking of our game against Esperance and we will look at the way they play. They must be a strong team because they’re African champions and they deserve to be in the Club World Cup.”
Like every other team, Hilal are dreaming of playing Liverpool in the final.
Gomis, who had a stint in the English Premier League, said: “If we play against Liverpool, it will be in the final. First, we have to beat Esperance and if we do that, we have to overcome Flamengo.”
“Al Hilal are one of the best clubs in Asia and they’ve given me all their love and respect. When you experience an atmosphere like this at any club, you do everything you can to help them and score goals.”
