Belmadi: Qatar have big ambitions

Victorious at the recent Gulf Cup of Nations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar are riding on a crest of renewed belief that could hardly have come at a better time. The win ended the side's ten-year wait for a third title in the competition, and the country's supporters are now hoping Qatar can impress at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, due to be held in Australia after the turn of the year.

The team certainly appear to be in good hands, with young Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi continuing to prove his worth in his new role. The 38-year-old had never coached before he took the reins of Qatari outfit Lekhwiya in 2010, but he quickly caught the eye by leading the recently founded club to a pair of league titles. He then steered Qatar's B team to victory in the 2014 WAFF Championship, and that convinced the Qatar Football Association (QFA) to give him the keys to the senior side in March this year.

Having passed each of those tests with flying colours, Belmadi now faces a challenge on a whole different scale, with Qatar gearing up to compete for continental glory. With the countdown under way ahead of the Asian Cup, Belmadi spoke exclusively to FIFA.com about his team's Gulf Cup of Nations triumph and their hopes for the finals in Australia.

'We had a good tournament'

Qatar travelled to Saudi Arabia having won the Gulf Cup of Nations in 1992 and 2004, yet both those successes had come on home soil. They thus started as anything but favourites at the 22nd edition, but Belmadi's troops grew in strength as the tournament unfolded, properly hitting their stride in the knockout phase. Their run culminated in a 2-1 showpiece win against the hosts which left the home supporters heartbroken but able to recognise the superiority of the victors.

"We had a good tournament," said Belmadi afterwards. "We knew the difficulties and pressure we'd be up against and the neutrals didn't think we'd go far, but we showed that we deserved this title. Before every competition, we set ourselves a goal, which we quietly work towards. The players followed all their instructions and made the most of their talent and combative spirit. I thank them for their efforts. This is an important title for us because we'd been waiting for it for ten years. The fact that it's come a month before the Asian Cup is a boost for our morale."

The former Marseille and Algeria midfielder is optimistic that his charges can build on their success on Australian soil next month. "As you know, this is a new squad," he said. "We have big ambitions and this competition is a new step for us in a long-term project. All the signs point to Japan, Australia and Korea Republic as favourites, but that doesn't mean we don't have a chance. Every competition is unique and we'll give everything to be up to the challenge."

Winning the title boosted the morale of the players and we're going to carry on in the same                                                                      vein.

Djamel Belmadi, Qatar boss on winning the 2014 WAFF Championship

Qatar have been pitted against near neighbours Bahrain, Iran and United Arab Emirates in Group C, and Belmadi is steeling himself for a stiff test. "Iran took part in the 2014 World Cup," he explained. "The Emirates have a good squad which has pulled off some remarkable results recently. As for Bahrain, they're looking to show they're competitive at this level. It's a tough group and none of the games will be easy. We'll need to start off well against the Emirates because an opening win would move us closer to qualification and be a real plus for our motivation. We'll do our best, while hoping that things go our way."

Quietly confident, Belmadi is nonetheless reticent to go into greater detail about his team's objectives in Australia. "We've been working on our preparations for months," he said. "We've played several high-quality friendly games and the Gulf Cup of Nations was another important step in our preparations. Winning the title boosted the morale of the players and we're going to carry on in the same vein. We'll take every match as it comes in Australia, to ensure that we remain focused."

Pressed again to outline a target for his side, Belmadi finally cracked a smile. "I don't want to put limits on our ambitions. Qatar reached the quarter-finals at the last edition and everyone is expecting us to do the same. The pressure on us needs to be positive and help encourage the players. We'll go as far as we can in what is a major tournament."

Squad cohesion

One advantage for Qatar is that Belmadi clearly knows his players well, having become acquainted with the country's finest talents since first moving to the country. That helped him settle quickly into his post when he took command earlier this year.

"I've been in Qatar for several years and I know how to act around the players," he said. "I started my coaching career at Lekhwiya, where I pretty much experienced everything and got to observe a lot of players on the pitch. Then I was able to try out some new players and youngsters with Qatar's B team at the WAFF Championship, so when the Qatari association put me in charge of the senior side, I already had a mass of information at my disposal. The fact that all the players play in the national championship has contributed to the cohesion of our squad, and I think that will only increase as our preparations continue."

Algerian pride

Despite his immersion in Qatari football, Belmadi remains a fervent Algeria fan and was proud to watch Les Fennecs shine at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. "They made history," he said. "I think the team learned lessons from the 2010 World Cup and were able to raise the quality of their play. To qualify for the second round was exceptional, and you mustn't forget that they were only eliminated by Germany, the eventual champions.

"This is just the start of something great, because the team contains a core of young players who will improve with time," he added. "They qualified for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in style. Algeria are now serious candidates for the continental title, which they haven't won since 1990."

He also shared his thoughts on the race for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, though not without giving the subject careful consideration. "There are lots of candidates," he said. "The World Cup counts as a factor, but this trophy rewards performances over a whole year. I think Cristiano Ronaldo had a great year and I'd go for him."

Unsurprisingly, given his current role, Belmadi will be equally intrigued to see who earns the plaudits as coach of the year. "I've been impressed by the superb work carried out by Diego Simeone," he said. "It's not easy to win the Liga ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona, and he also took his side to the final of the Champions League and nearly won it, so I think he deserves that prize."