Knights relying on veteran coach Fernandez to pull them out of trouble

Al Khor is next under the spotlight as we look at the progress of the teams in the QSL during the international break. It’s fair to say that the sides from the north of Qatar have endured a patchy 2016/2017 QSL season to date,  and in fact have yet to register back to back wins in the league underlines their inconsistency over this season.

Al Khor has typically been a side that has struggled in the QSL, before eventually pulling away from trouble in the final months of the season. With the Knights currently in eleventh place in the standings, and four points away from automatic relegation tensions must be high in the Al Khor ranks heading into the final three games of the campaign.

The Knights made an unspectacular start to the QSL season, picking up two wins and two draws in their opening six games of the league. That was then followed by a dismal run of five straight defeats in the league, which saw Jean Fernandez’s side well and truly pulled into the relegation picture.

Heading into the turn of the year, Khor did manage to stop the rot and picked up moral boosting victories against the likes of Al Rayyan (2-1) and fellow strugglers Al Sailiya (3-1). However a lack of investment in the winter transfer window certainly curtailed the ambitions of the Knights to push on up further in the table.

To date, Al Khor has picked up five wins, six draws and twelve defeats in the league season. More worrying perhaps that their recent form has dipped off significantly, Khor last picked up a victory back in round 17 against Al Kharaitiyat winning 2-0. Right now victories are the priority if Al Khor is to avoid playing a relegation play-off against the second placed side in the Qatar Gas League.

Jean Fernandez’s have three important matches to round off the season, two of which are against two relegation rivals. Realistically if Khor can get six points from their final games, they could have a chance of missing out on the relegation play-off. First up will be a tie against bottom of the table Al Wakrah, followed up with a match against Al Shahania. Both matches can be considered six pointers, and victories for Al Khor would all but consign the two sides to relegation. Khor round off their season with a match against Al Rayyan, a side they have already defeated this season.

Perhaps the biggest strength Al Khor possesses is their veteran coach Jean Fernandez. The French coach has a 25 year career in football management, and will be no stranger in getting the very best from his players in a relegation dog-fight. His knowledge, along with some favorable games against relegation rivals, could significantly aid Khor in beating the drop to the Qatar Gas League for yet another season.