(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Fawad Hussain | The Peninsula
Al Rayyan started the QNB Stars League (QSL) season as the title contenders but the former champions are struggling on eighth position after failing to excel in the first nine rounds.
As the QSL resumes today after a 50-day long break following the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, coach Laurent Blanc is hoping The Lions will make a big turnaround and return to winning ways.
Reigning champions Al Sadd are leading the standings with 25 points followed by Al Duhail (22) and Al Arabi (19). Al Rayyan only have nine points from two wins and three drawn matches so far.
The Blanc-coached side's first target will be to surpass Qatar SC, who are ahead of the former champions in the standings on goal difference.
The two sides will meet at Qatar SC Stadium today, and Blanc said his team must start taking maximum points from each match they play in the remainder of the season.
“We will start a new tournament because the last match we played in the league was a long time ago and we need to perform better,” the Frenchman told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We have many matches in the tournament and we have to win and collect points. If I manage to recover all the players I will be very happy. I am excited very much for the return of the league and I hope that the players will be at the same level of enthusiasm,” he added.
Al Rayyan coach hoped Qatar's Abdulaziz Hatem and Yacine Brahimi from eventual champions Algeria will be the key performers for his team after their brilliant performance in the Arab Cup.
“We had some players who performed at great levels in the Arab Cup. Abdulaziz Hatem made a great performance with the Qatar team and Yacine made a great performance with the Algerian national team and got the best player award in the tournament, so I am happy for them,” said Blanc.
Meanwhile, Qatar SC coach Youssef Safri said facing Al Rayyan is a difficult challenge for his team.
“I expect the match to be difficult for both teams, especially since Al Rayyan are a strong team. We are required to provide everything we have in a confrontation that I expect will be full of fun and excitement,” he said.
“With the will and determination of the players, we look forward to a strong return to the league competitions. Changes are considered part of the game.
What serves the interest of the team and I would like to point out that (Yousef) Belaili, who has left us, is a respected player in any team he represents,” said Safri.
In today's other matches, Al Ahli will meet Al Sailiya while Al Wakrah will take on Al Shamal.
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