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

“Al Sadd are a very good team. They are the best team in the league. Preparing for this match after losing the last two matches will call for a special effort and we have to prepare differently. We have to do many things right because for me some players have to be tried. The same is true for Xavi (Al Sadd coach) who has the same agenda as Al Rayyan as they will leave Doha for the AFC Champions League.

“I think that playing against Al Sadd is an additional motivation for my team. Everyone knows that Al Sadd are a champion side who has won many games. For me, I am happy when I play against the best team and the best players and I hope that this is a strong motivation for the players. In the last two games, we lost power especially in set balls so I want to see my players doing well in this match.

“It will be a difficult game but a good game. The last two matches we lost in the same way through fixed balls. We did not have enough strength so we lost the match. We had many chances to score but Al Sailiya and Umm Salal took advantage of the opportunities they got.

“We know Al Sadd and their players. We know the quality of the team, the players and the coach and for me there is no problem,” said Blanc.

Al Rayyan player Mowafak Awad said, “Al Rayyan will work to correct mistakes seen in the last two matches in order to appear well in the Al Sadd match. We train hard every day with the coach and the team is developing. We lost the last two games due to a lack of focus and God willing, the next match will do better. 

“Every match we play is for the sake of winning only, but sometimes mistakes affect the outcome of a match. Al Sadd are a big team and their substitute players are of the same quality as their starting XI. Al Sadd played with their reserve lot in the last match, so I expect that they will play the main players in this match.”