DOHA: El Jaish’s star midfielder and skipper Seydou Keita - who spent a considerable time playing for Barcelona - feels football in Qatar is of a high standard.
Keita switched to El Jaish at the start of the regular Qatar Stars League (QSL) season, becoming one of scores of top-flight players to base camp in a country that is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
“The standard in Qatar has been better than I expected,” Keita said in an interview.
“Obviously you can’t compare it to the leagues in Spain, Italy and Germany. But I think when you’re in Europe people don’t consider that the quality in Asia is so good and I’ve found that not to be the case.
“Technically the players here are very strong,” Keita, 36, told the-afc.com in a detailed chat.
Keita knows his place in El Jaish, one of the top teams in QSL.
“My experience is important for the team but the most important thing at the beginning was about the players getting to know me and after that, as captain, I hope I can help them,” Keita said
The influential midfielder was part of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League-winning sides in 2009 and 2011. He also played for Dalian Aerbin in China, Valencia in Spain and Roma in Italy.
Keita - after launching his career in France, moved to Nou Camp in 2008 when Pep Guardiola was managing the La Liga giants. Joining Barcelona meant Keita shared the dressing rooms with the likes of Lionel Messi and Spain’s World Cup hero Andres Iniesta. Keita played for four years at Nou Camp, winning three La Liga crowns along the way.
