Al Rayyan coach Laurent Blanc spoke to the media ahead of their 2020-21 season QNB Stars League Week 20 match against Umm Salal.

“This is a very important match for us. My team will be playing for victory. I wish the team achieves victory in the last three matches of the league. We feel Umm Salal may have a specific defensive plan in all of their matches. But I hope Umm Salal will go to the match to play positive because it is interesting to see two teams play attacking football.

“Al Rayyan will play well and we will wait till Saturday to decide on our playing XI. I hope you will see a good game from a technical point of view. May the best team win the match.

“We will play a match every three days during the next stage and this is very difficult. I hope that there won’t be any injuries or absences for us because in the absence of a player, the situation will not be difficult but impossible to manage,” said Blanc.

Al Rayyan player Mohammed Alaaeldin said, “Al Rayyan will be playing to win the next three matches. Our preparations ahead of the Umm Salal clash have been like any other match. It will be difficult as it is an important match. This match could determine the third and fourth places in the league. We aspire to get the third place.

“The team’s preparations are strong and of the highest level. I do not think that matters are settled as Qatar SC and Al Gharafa can come behind us with a difference of three and four points. There are three matches remaining in the league and I do not think that the matches are settled and the third place is not settled either. We will try to focus first on the league matches.

“We will try as much as possible to remain focused on the field. In the month of April, we have nine matches. We will train hard and try to remain injury-free so that the players do not suffer any injuries. Given the importance of all players and losing any player will affect our team’s plans.”