Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup speaking to journalists in Doha on Sunday. Pic: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
Last year’s Qatar Stars League (QSL) winners Al Rayyan are determined to end their losing streak against Al Sadd when they meet in the semi-final of the Qatar Cup on Thursday.
The Lions finished in third place in the QSL with 51 points from 26 matches with 15 wins, six draws and six loses in the 14-team league played on a double leg basis.
Two of the six defeats came against Al Sadd which proved decisive in the final standings as Al Rayyan finished behind second placed Wolves and champions Lekhwiya.
Coach Michael Laudrup wants to put an end to the reverses his team has suffered at the hands of The Wolves.
“Al Sadd is a very difficult team for Al Rayyan, Al Rayyan never wins. Last year we lost, this year we lost, so we want to beat Al Sadd in the Qatar Cup,” said the Dane while speaking to The Peninsula.
Besides the Qatar Cup and the Emir Cup, Al Rayyan is playing in the continental AFC Champions League.
“The problem is we play Al Wahda in Abu Dhabi in four days’ time. Very, very important game, but, we have good strong team in both events, both very good teams then we see thereafter. What happens in Qatar Cup, if we win we play in the Qatar Cup final, otherwise we have more time to prepare for the AFC matches,” said the 54-year old former Swansea City manager, who took charge of Al Rayyan this season having earlier coached Lekhwiya in the 2014-15 season.
Laudrup is happy way things are shaping up in the AFC Champions League where they are on the threshold of reaching the last sixteen stage.
“In the AFC campaign we are doing a fantastic job. We are in the group with the two best teams in the Gulf, Hilal number one in Saudi and Persepolis, number one in Iran. We are still there and we have lot of possibilities to go in to the last sixteen for the first time in the history of Al Rayyan, so I think we are doing a fantastic job in the AFC Champions League.”
The QSL side are in the second place in the four-team group behind Al Hilal, who lead with eight points while Al Rayyan are in second place, with seven and two matches still matches to go.
Laudrup is content with the third-place finish in this year’s QSL.
“We had set a target to finish among the top-four at the start of the competition and we have been able to achieve our goal, so we are happy with what we have achieved,” he added.
