The countdown to 2021-2022 QNB Stars League has begun even as the clubs are eagerly continuing their preparations for the season’s competitions after returning from their overseas camps, where they sought to achieve maximum technical and physical benefits for the players.

Against this backdrop, we are highlighting the pre-season preparations made by each of the 12 teams.

AL RAYYAN

Al Rayyan are looking forward to a better season than they had in 2020-2021, where after raising hopes of winning titles, they had to settle for the third place in the QNB Stars League, behind Al Sadd and Al Duhail in that order. The Lions ended up with 35 points (10 victories, five draws and seven defeats).

French coach Laurent Blanc realizes that the task will not be easy at all, so Al Rayyan are racing against time to finish their signings to strengthen the squad with the best players before the start of the league championship, so they are able to present a great level to the satisfaction of their passionate fans.

Continuation of Laurent Blanc

Frenchman Blanc took over the reins of Al Rayyan in the middle of last season to compensate for the departure of Uruguayan Diego Aguirre, who left due to personal reasons.

The team management saw the necessity of a big-name coach and Blanc, who has coached his country’s national team as well as many top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, fitted the bill.

Spain camp

Al Rayyan prepared for the new season in mid-July in Doha, and the team then had a camp in Spain in August, during which they played a number of matches, starting with a draw with Spanish team Andorra. They lost the second and third games to Spain’s Peralada and Figueres respectively.

Foreign professionals

Al Rayyan are one of the few teams which retained its professional players, with the exception of Argentinian Gabriel Mercado.

The quartet of Franck Kom, Johan Boli, Yacine Brahimi and Shojae Khalilzadeh stays with the side.

Al Rayyan are expected to soon finalise their professionals by adding the fifth player.

Ahmed Yasser joins squad

Al Rayyan succeeded in roping in top defender Ahmed Yasser Al Mohammadi from Al Duhail for a term of three seasons, even as right-back Mohammed Alaaeldin left for Al Duhail. Al Rayyan also renewed the contract of midfielder Ahmed Abdelmaqsoud.

Campaign start

Al Rayyan will play Umm Salal, Al Wakrah, Al Sadd (Qatar Clasico) and Al Khor in that order in the first four rounds.