Conditions not a factor says Al Sadd s Sanchez before Kawasaki clash

JEDDAH - Al-Sadd coach Felix Sanchez dismissed suggestions his sides familiarity with the conditions in Jeddah will give the Qataris an advantage over Japans Kawasaki Frontale when the teams meet in Sundays quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite.

Day-time temperatures in the Saudi Arabian city have hit 37 degrees Celsius ahead of the meeting at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, with the squad from nearby Doha attempting to win the title for the first time since 2011.

Were in our region, we are close to home but, once you are on the field, its a football game, said Sanchez.

We are only focused on ourselves. We represent Al-Sadd, we represent Qatar and we want to make us proud of what were going to do in the next days.

We are going to face Kawasaki from Japan, a very good team, a top level team. Thats why theyre here and were only focused on what will happen in the game.

Sanchez will be looking to complete a personal double by leading Al-Sadd to the continental club title six years after steering Qatars national team to the Asian Cup, when his team defeated Japan in the final.

The Spaniards Al-Sadd side are not considered one of the favourites in a competition that has been dominated by big-spending Saudi Pro League clubs and he stressed he will not be looking beyond the clash with the J-League side.

We have arrived here with the objective to go far and win the title, he said. We are focused on every game. Tomorrow we have a final and, after that, if we are able to go on in the competition, well think about the next game.

We cannot think about winning the title. We are confident in our possibilities but tomorrow is our final.