DOHA (Qatar): Reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd now turn attention on their next match against CONCACAF winners Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup here on Saturday.
The Qatari side has won against Hienghene Sport 3-1 in the play-off on Wednesday.
“We focused on our first match against Hienghene,” Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah told FIFA.com. “Now it’s over. We will think about the Monterrey game. We will need to be more switched-on if we want to beat them and progress to the semifinal.”
Having gotten close to two goals per game on the way to winning the title in April, Bounedjah gave his take on why he has been less prolific than usual in front of goal so far this season.
“After the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, I went back to training right away and didn’t rest well,” he added. “That’s why I haven’t scored as many goals as last year, but I am working hard to regain my best form.”
Bounedjah’s strike against Hienghene Sport could be the first of more to come in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019.
Having found the net twice recently on international duty for Algeria, Bounedjah is hoping for a strong end to a year that has been full of highs.
“I won the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said. “I reached the AFC Champions League’s semi-final too, but we couldn’t make to the final. I am now taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup so I can say that 2019 has been an exceptional year for me.”
