For FIFA World Cup™ winner Xavi Hernández, the chance to be among the first 22 players to step foot in the newly renovated Khalifa International Stadium for the Emir Cup final on Friday is encapsulated in a single word: excitement.

Having recently lifted his first trophy in Qatar with Al Sadd, the Spain and Barcelonalegend is looking forward to playing his trademark passes across the new pitch at the first venue to be completed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

"I'm very excited about the fact that the first stadium for the World Cup in Qatar is completed, it will be a stadium where the best players in the world come to Doha in 2022," Xavi told www.sc.qa in an exclusive interview. "It will inspire the youngsters from Qatar and the region, to motivate them to become better players and play this World Cup here in Qatar."

Looking ahead to Friday's 'Qatar Clasico' against traditional rivals Al Rayyan, Xavi said excitement was building across the entire country as the two teams prepare to take to the pitch at 7pm, after an inauguration ceremony for the historic venue at 6.30pm.

"I am excited to play the final in this stadium, I can feel the passion building up to this match. Qatar is a country which is doing things well, it is a long-term project until 2022 but the first stadium is already being delivered. You can see that football is in the air, they breathe it here and that is something marvelous."

"More than five years before the World Cup it is fantastic to see how the stadiums are being prepared for the tournament. What I try to transmit to the young people of this region is this passion that I have for football. This is a historic opportunity to play a World Cup at home and to do it well. There is great youth work being done in Qatar, at Aspire Academy and the youth teams, so you will see the results in the coming years."

Xavi's second season in Qatar has been nothing short of spectacular, scoring a career-high 10 goals in 26 games, as well as notching 16 assists, completing a pass accuracy of 89.2 % and covering an average of 11.4 kilometers per game according to STATS, the official statistic partner of the Qatar Stars League (QSL).

He believes his side has also succeeded in exciting fans with the attacking style of football which he has brought with him from Barcelona.

"I think we're the team that plays the best football in Qatar, the fans have returned to enjoying our style of play. We have managed to win the Qatar Cup, and were able to win a very tough final against Al Jaish, which I am very happy about. Now we are looking to win the Emir Cup, it will be difficult but we want to finish the season with another title. We are in a great moment of form."

For one of the game's greatest ever midfielders, the perfect chance awaits to conclude his second season in Qatar on a winning note: "I am enjoying my football. I am very happy in my personal and professional life here in Qatar, and Al Sadd Club, Aspire Academy and Generation Amazing are three fantastic projects that I am working on with young players."

He added: "On a personal level I am among the three best players in Qatar this season for the player of the season award. I was surprised because I am 37 years old, but with 10 goals and 16 assists I am really enjoying my football here. Football is a team sport and we have to thank the team for all the support we are getting."

The Al Sadd captain concluded by saying that his team's fans could expect more great football when the Qatar Clasico begins on Friday evening. "When I came here I wanted to transmit my experience from Barcelona, and you can see now how at Al Sadd we try to play good football, we have a coach who believes in this style of play in Jesualdo, and there are very good coaches in the league. The players are improving and the project is long term to make sure that players from Qatar are able to compete well in the home World Cup in 2022."