By Paul Nicholson
January 3 – Europe’s giant clubs aren’t heading for the alpine ski slopes for their winter break but to the warmer climate of the Middle East for preparation for the second half of their seasons. French champions and league leaders Paris St Germain are already in Doha, Qatar, and last night played a friendly against Spain’s Real Madrid (Madrid won 1-0) in front of a 45,000 capacity crowd at Aspire’s Khalfa Stadium. Bayern leave for Qatar at the weekend. Manchester City have scheduled a short break in Abu Dhabi.
As well as Bayern and PSG (as part of their Qatar Winter Tour), Aspire is hosting Schalke, Zenit St. Petersburg and Red Bull Salzburg in Doha for training camps within the next two weeks.
With the game against Real Madrid at the Khalifa Stadium, PSG completed a five-day camp in the Qatari capital. Based at the Aspire Sports Complex, PSG manager Laurent Blanc said he would come back with the side for the next winter break. “It’s my first visit to Qatar and I must say the infrastructure is wonderful here, while the excellent weather is a big plus. We couldn’t have hoped for more to prepare for what will be a very busy second half of the season,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“We receive multiple requests for winter camps at Aspire and we try to be selective about the teams we invite,” said Ivan Bravo, director general of Qatar’s Aspire Academy.
“Our philosophy is to bring only top clubs and those that can provide a meaningful relationship for the Academy (mainly technical exchanges and joint projects). For example, last year one of our U21 national team goalkeepers trained with Schalke’s first team goalkeepers.
“We will try to host a top Serie A club – Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan – next year to continue expanding our exposure to different football identities, club values and approaches to the game. This year, we’re happy to add Zenit FC to the list of leading teams spending time with us. As Russia’s most important club we’re eager to learn about the efforts and initiatives that Russian football is considering for their own World Cup in 2018,” said Bravo.
“Logically, we also understand these clubs are trying to grow their fan base and business opportunities in the region, so we’re happy to provide a home for them in the Middle East and become ambassadors of their brand.”
Qatar Sports Investments, which took over PSG two years ago, has provided the club with the financial power to drive it into the world’s elite and Blanc said the friendly against Real Madrid (billed as a rematch of Ronaldo vs Ibrahimovic) could be a precursor to the Champions League final, a key objective of both clubs.
“The presence of PSG is becoming an annual tradition for Aspire. The football family of Qatar follows their success with passion and pride,” said Bravo.
PSG return to action in France this weekend in the French Cup, while Real Madrid are back into the La Liga season on Monday.
Bayern Munich, who don’t restart their Bundesliga season until January 24, will hold a nine day training camp in Doha, the first time they have trained together since winning the FIFA Club World Cup against Raja Casablanca in Marrakesh on December 21.
They will play Sudanese champions Al-Merrikh in Doha on January 9 and a friendly in Kuwait against local champions Kuwait SC on January 13. Bayern are currently seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga as they bid to repeat their remarkable season of 2012/13 and retain their Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trophies.
Even the English clubs, who played out to packed houses in a match-crammed holiday season, are keen to get some winter warmth. High flying Manchester City will travel to Abu Dhabi for a week of warm-weather training following their Premier League fixture at Newcastle United on January 12.
However, if City have to replay their third-round FA Cup tie with Blackburn Rovers the trip will be cancelled.
Scheduled for the trip is a friendly against Al Ain on January 14 to open the Arabian Gulf League champions’ new stadium, the Hazza Bin Zayed.
Al Ain’s new stadium is part of a scheme that covers 500,000 square metres and features a 170-room hotel, 700 apartments, green spaces, two office buildings, 50 restaurants and shops.
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