Following the intense match between Al-Shabab and Al-Fateh in the thirteenth round of the Saudi Professional League, Al-Shabab's Spanish coach, Imanol Alguacil, made important statements to explain the reasons for the 2-0 loss, a result that cast a shadow on the team's position in the standings.
Alguacil's statements: The expulsion and injuries broke the team's back
During the post-match press conference, the Spanish coach refused to place the entire blame for the result on his players, instead praising their fighting spirit. Alguacil explained that the course of the match had not gone his team's way, specifically pointing to the impact of the red cards, which forced the players to exert double the effort to compensate for the numerical disadvantage. He said, "I commend the players for all their sacrifices. The league is still long, and we have a chance to make up for it.".
Hamdallah's crisis and reliance on youth categories
The Al-Shabab coach didn't just discuss the match circumstances; he also addressed the biggest problem facing the team this season: the injury curse that has plagued their attacking line. Al-Ghuwasil revealed alarming statistics regarding the team's star striker, Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah, explaining that he has only participated in five matches due to recurring injuries. He added that the absence rate of the other strikers on the team has reached 80% of the matches, which has put the coaching staff in a real predicament, forcing them to call up youth team players to fill the gaps. He emphasized the need to be prepared for all future eventualities.
Match scenario and turning point
Regarding the technical aspects of the match, the Spanish coach pointed out that his team started the match strongly and with a clear attacking structure to score early, but football only recognizes goals, as Al-Fateh took advantage of the first defensive error from Al-Shabab players to score the first goal, which changed the course of the match and affected the morale of the team, so the match ended with Al-Shabab losing by two goals to nil.
The youth team's position in the standings: an early warning sign
This loss further complicates the situation for Al-Shabab, one of the four historical giants of Saudi football. Following this round, the team's points tally remains at a mere 8, dropping them to 15th place in the Roshan League standings – a position unbecoming of the Riyadh-based club's history and prestige, placing them in the early relegation zone. Meanwhile, Al-Fateh capitalized on this victory, raising their points total to 14 and climbing to 10th place, thus strengthening their position in the safe zone.
Roshan League and the Challenges of the Big Boys
This match takes on special significance given the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League this season. With the league's rapid development and the influx of international talent, there are no easy matches anymore, and dropping points against mid-table teams has become a costly proposition for top clubs, both in the title race and in the battle for Asian Champions League qualification. These results place immense pressure on management and coaching staff to quickly turn things around before it's too late, especially for a club the size of Al-Shabab, whose fans always aspire to see them on the podium.
