Croatian coach Slaven Bilic, manager of Al-Fateh FC, expressed his immense satisfaction with his team's valuable 2-1 victory over Al-Akhdoud in their postponed match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League. Bilic emphasized that the win was the result of overcoming a significant challenge, stressing the importance of the three points in the team's league campaign.
In the post-match press conference, Bilic revealed the tactical reasons behind the game, saying: “We had a big challenge in rotating the players. We had a tough match on Thursday, and there was a real concern about the players suffering from fatigue and muscle injuries.” He added: “For this reason, I decided to start with a group of young players, resting some of the team's key players. The youngsters proved they were up to the task, and in the second half, the more experienced players came on and made the difference needed to secure the victory.”.
The Croatian coach admitted he had some apprehension about taking this risk, but emphasized his strong confidence in his entire squad. He continued, “I won’t deny that I was a little worried about playing these young players together, but I know their capabilities very well. I had great faith in them, and we succeeded in striking the right balance between giving them a chance and protecting our key players from injury.”.
General context and importance of winning the Roshan League
This victory comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing an exceptional season and unprecedented competitiveness, with clubs attracting top international stars, raising the level of challenge for all teams. For Al-Fateh, who previously won the league title in the historic 2012-2013 season, every victory represents an important step towards achieving their goals of remaining in the safe mid-table position while also aiming for a higher ranking.
Expected impact on the teams' performance
Domestically, this victory boosts Al-Fateh's points tally and gives them a significant morale boost as they continue their league campaign. It also demonstrates the depth of the squad and coach Bilic's ability to manage crises and cope with the pressure of matches. Conversely, this setback represents a blow to the ambitions of Al-Akhdoud, the newly promoted Pro League club, which is striving to establish itself among the elite and avoid relegation. Matches like these confirm that the competition in the Roshan League is not limited to the top teams but extends to all clubs striving to achieve their seasonal goals.
