Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Al-Hilal, has made his final decision regarding the squad that will face Al-Ettifaq in the upcoming match, part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This decision comes as Al-Hilal prepares to continue its impressive winning streak and secure its lead in the standings.
General context: An exceptional season and blue dominance
This encounter comes amidst a historic season for Al-Hilal under the leadership of Jorge Jesus, as the team sits comfortably atop the league standings, boasting a record-breaking winning streak. This dominance is no accident; it is the product of meticulous tactical work and technical stability, supported by a squad considered the strongest in Asia, featuring a constellation of the brightest international and local stars. This depth of talent provides the Portuguese coach with numerous options and a "positive headache" before each match, forcing him to make difficult decisions regarding the selection of the foreign players to participate.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
The Saudi Professional League regulations stipulate that each team can field a specific number of foreign players in every match. This means that a coach of Jorge Jesus's caliber, who has world-class players in every position such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves, Malcom, Kalidou Koulibaly, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, is forced to make careful tactical decisions. Exclusions in such cases are not due to a decline in a player's performance, but are often based on purely tactical considerations related to the opponent's style of play, or to rest key players and rotate the squad to avoid fatigue and injuries during a season packed with domestic and continental competitions. This reflects Al Hilal's true strength, which lies in having a well-rounded team, not just 11 starting players. This strengthens their chances of competing strongly for all titles, including the AFC Champions League.
Against a well-organized team like Al-Ettifaq, led by English coach Steven Gerrard, Jesus's choices will be crucial to securing victory. Al-Hilal aims to secure three more points in this match, bringing them closer to reclaiming the league title. The "Blue Wave" fans eagerly await the final lineup, confident in their team's ability to continue their impressive run, regardless of who starts the match.
