The Saudi Professional League is witnessing a dramatic turnaround for Al-Fateh, who are currently enjoying a golden period under the guidance of their experienced Portuguese coach, José Gomes. After a period of inconsistency and poor results, the team, nicknamed "The Model," returned from the international break completely transformed, achieving a 100% success rate, reflecting the significant technical and tactical work done behind the scenes.
Pre-break: Struggling at the bottom of the standings
To understand the magnitude of this achievement, one must consider the precarious situation the team faced before the break. Their last match was a shock, as they were eliminated from the King's Cup quarterfinals with a crushing 4-1 defeat. The league was no better, preceded by a 1-2 loss to Al-Hilal and a resounding 5-2 defeat to Al-Taawoun. This string of negative results left Al-Fateh in a precarious position, managing only 5 points from 9 matches and languishing in 17th place (second to last), a position unbecoming of a club with a history of winning the league title.
The pause: a lifeline and restructuring
The break presented a golden opportunity for coach José Gomes to regroup and address the team's critical defensive errors. During this period, the team held a training camp that included challenging friendly matches. They narrowly lost to Al-Ettifaq (2-3), secured a 1-0 victory against Kuwait's Al-Tadhamon, and concluded their preparations with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Al-Nassr. These matches were more than just trials; they served as a genuine workshop to improve fitness levels and enhance team cohesion.
The strong comeback: knocking off the big teams and jumping up the rankings
Al-Fateh returned to official competitions with a completely different look, passing their first real test by defeating one of the giants of Saudi football, Al-Ahli, 2-1, a strong indication of the team's resurgence. Al-Fateh continued their winning streak with an away victory against Al-Khaleej 1-0, before continuing their impressive run in round 12 by defeating Al-Shabab 2-0.
The language of numbers: a radical shift in direction
In numerical terms, Al-Fateh amassed a perfect nine points in just three rounds after the break, nearly double their total from the nine rounds preceding the hiatus. This impressive points haul boosted the team's tally to 14, propelling them from second-to-last place to tenth, a comfortable position in the standings. This transformation not only reflects improved results but also underscores the importance of the team's stability and the psychological work undertaken by the coaching staff to lift the players from the pressures of relegation to a more comfortable mid-table position, thus restoring balance to the Roshan League competition for the 2025/26 season.
