Following Al-Najma's heavy defeat by four goals to nil against Al-Ahli, in the twenty-third round of the Saudi Professional League, coach Nestor El Maestro came out to comment on his team's performance and the result of the match that took place at Al-Inma Stadium.
Nestor El Maestro's analysis of the match
During the post-match press conference, coach Nestor El Maestro presented his tactical analysis of the game, emphasizing that his team had delivered a strong and positive performance, particularly in the first half. He praised what he described as the players' "tremendous physical effort" in their attempt to compete with a team of Al Ahly's caliber, a team boasting high-caliber players with extensive international experience.
Maestro said: “We played a strong and positive match. Al Ahly is a great team with high-caliber players, and I’m happy with what my players offered throughout the game.” He added, explaining the turning point in the match: “The team played two completely different halves. The first half saw a high level of physical exertion, but in the second half, after the red card we received, the players’ physical performance noticeably declined, which is normal when playing with a numerical disadvantage against an opponent of this quality.”.
The general context of the confrontation in the Roshan League
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention thanks to its attraction of major international stars. Al-Ahli, with its rich history and vast fan base, is one of the pillars of Saudi football and aims to compete strongly for a top spot in the league standings this season. A resounding victory like this strengthens their position and gives their players a tremendous morale boost to continue their campaign.
On the other hand, these matches present a significant challenge for teams like Al-Najma, who are striving to establish themselves and secure their place in the professional league. Despite the harsh result, the performance highlighted by the coach in the first half, which prevented Al-Ahli from scoring, can be built upon in upcoming matches against direct rivals.
Impact of the result and future prospects
The coach emphasized that his strategy relied on high pressing, which his team successfully implemented in the first half. He concluded his remarks on an optimistic note, saying, “My team played a fantastic match, as evidenced by Al Ahly’s failure to score any goals in the first half. We will continue working in this manner to correct our mistakes and improve in the future.”.
With this result, Al-Ahly continues its march towards the top of the standings, benefiting from the brilliance of its players and their ability to decide big matches, while Al-Najma finds itself facing the need to review its calculations and focus on collecting points in the remaining rounds of the league to ensure it achieves its goals this season.
