Emmanuel Alguacil, the technical director of the first football team of Al-Shabab Club, expressed his deep regret and sadness after his team’s loss to Al-Ittihad, with a score of two goals to nil, in the top match of the eleventh round of the Saudi Professional League, which was held at Al-Inma Stadium.
Speaking at the press conference that followed the match, Al-Ghawasil appeared very realistic, acknowledging the difficulty of the match and the strength of the opponent, stating: "We did our best on the field and tried to keep up with the high pace of the match, but we must be honest with ourselves; Al-Ittihad is currently in its best technical and physical condition, and it is a very strong competitor that is difficult to beat under its current circumstances.".
The youth team coach addressed the adverse circumstances his team faced before and during the match, noting that absences played a role in influencing the technical choices. He added: "The team is going through difficult circumstances represented by the large number of injuries and the shortage of key players, and this undoubtedly affects the technical stability. However, I do not want to make excuses or cry over spilled milk.".
In a gesture reflecting his sense of responsibility as the head coach, Al-Ghawasil refused to directly blame the players despite his complete dissatisfaction, saying: "I am not satisfied with the players' performance at certain points in the match, but ultimately I am the coach and I am the one who bears full responsibility for this defeat and for the image the team presented.".
This match comes amidst the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League, where encounters between Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad are considered classics that attract widespread public and media attention, given the long and storied history between the two clubs. This result underscores Al-Ittihad's (the Dean's) high level of readiness and its determined pursuit of a return to the top of the table and a title challenge, capitalizing on the stumbles and inconsistent performances of its rivals.
On the other hand, this defeat puts Al-Shabab (Al-Laith) in a critical position, as the team’s tally is frozen at only 8 points, which has led to its decline to the thirteenth position in the standings, a position that does not befit the history of the club and the ambitions of its large fan base, which is waiting for a strong reaction in the coming rounds to correct the course and move away from the danger zones.
In contrast, Al-Ittihad strengthened its position in the standings, raising its points tally to 17, thus climbing to sixth place, which gives it a great morale boost to continue winning and creeping towards the golden square in the upcoming rounds of the competition.
