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Sports / Qatar Sport

Wounded Al Rayyan aim to bounce back

Published: 11 Dec 2016 - 12:59 am | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 11:02 am
Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup addressing a press conference on the eve of the Qatar Stars League match against Al Wakrah in Doah yesterday.

Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup addressing a press conference on the eve of the Qatar Stars League match against Al Wakrah in Doah yesterday.

The Peninsula

Round eleven of the Qatar Stars League (QSL) season will kick off today with four games involving sides targeting all three points.
All eyes will be on the final game of the day which will see the QSL champions Al Rayyan visit a Al Wakrah side who picked up their first win of the season against Al Khor.
Lions supremo Michael Laudrup is expecting a big reaction from his players who lost 5-0 to Al Sadd in the Qatar Clasico.
Laudrup expects his side to bounce back.
“After the game like the other day, it’s important to have a reaction and knowing my players they will show this against Al Wakrah.”
“Wakrah come into the game with plenty of confidence as they haven’t lost in four games.  It is a good thing that the game comes very quickly we need to put the defeat against Al Sadd behind us. We cannot think about the league title at the moment we just have to focus on the game that is ahead of us” Added the Danish head coach.
 Al Rayyan’s stirikers have been misfiring in recent weeks, however Laudrup belives they will soon find their form. “I am happy that the performances with the strikers and I know they are upset at not scoring but i know that with strikers they will get one goal and then more will come and I hope in this moment they will do this,” he added.
 Laudrup stressed that his central midfielders will need time to get back to full fitness. “Daniel Goumou has been playing well at the moment, you cannot be away from playing matches for so long and not drop off physically. We are in a run of games now and naturally he is going to drop off i am expecting that. Likewise  for Caseres he will need two months to get back to his best when he returns, that is football.”
Al Wakrah head into their match off the back of their first win of the season against Al Khor and coach Kais Yâakoubi stressed on the quality of his opponents.
“We look to the table, we know there is a big gap in quality between us and Al Rayyan. Regardless of the negative results in the next few weeks from them.”
 “Our target is to start picking up points. We picked up our first win and we need to continue on this path if we are going to avoid relegation this season,” added the Tunisian coach.
 Yâakoubi also revealed he will be without some key players heading into the game; “The atmosphere is good in the squad after the win, but we only have 72 hours to prepare for this game it is important .Maher Yusef and Ahmed Fadel will be absent for this game, despite the missing names we are aiming to get a positive result.”
 The Tunisian revealed it’s an ideal moment to play the QSL champions.
“It’s a good opportunity to take advantage of the defeat Al Rayyan had against Al Sadd. We don’t need to give the players motivation when they play the best teams in the QSL. It’s a appropriate time to play Al Rayyan.”
Todays action will  see top of the table El Jaish take on Muaither.  Sabri Lamouchi will be looking to get back to winning ways after falling to their first defeat of the season against rivals Lekhwiya.
As for Muaither they are now on a three game losing streak in the QSL, and have dropped into the relegation zone.  
Head coach Phillipe Birol will be hoping that leading goalscorer Alain Dioko will be fit in time for this game.
 The second game of the day will see Al Ahli take on a Al Shahaniya side who have been quietly picking up points, boosting their survival.  
Later in the day, Al Sailiya welcome an inform Al Gharafa side to Al Ahli Stadium.