Al-Shabab's new Portuguese coach, Vitor Pereira, expressed his satisfaction and deep happiness after his team secured a hard-fought and well-deserved 1-0 victory over Al-Fayha. This win came in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League, marking the beginning of a new era for the "Sheikh of Clubs" under his ambitious leadership.
General context and a new beginning for young people
This victory comes at a crucial time for Al Shabab, who suffered from inconsistent results during the first half of the season, leaving them in a position unbecoming of their history and potential. With the opening of the winter transfer window, the club's management strengthened the squad with several high-profile signings, most notably the experienced Croatian star Ivan Rakitić, who arrived from Spanish club Sevilla. They also appointed coach Vítor Pereira, known for his extensive experience in European and Brazilian football, with the aim of turning things around and restoring the team to its rightful place among the elite.
Coach analysis and the impact of new players
During the post-match press conference, Pereira explained that the team was beginning to reap the rewards of the work and new signings made by the management. He stated, “I am very happy with the spirit shown by the players; they fought for every ball. The team is now complete with the new signings, and we are already seeing their impact on the pitch.” He added that the substitutions he made during the second half were well-considered and directly contributed to maintaining the lead and securing the three points, praising the tactical discipline the players maintained until the final whistle.
The importance of winning and the challenges ahead
This victory not only secured three valuable points, bringing Al Shabab's tally to 19 and narrowing the gap with Al Fayha in twelfth place, but also provided a tremendous morale boost for the entire team. This win, the first under Pereira's leadership, instills a significant confidence in both the coach and the players to move forward. However, the Portuguese coach acknowledged the considerable challenge ahead, stating, "We will face a congested schedule this February, with eight matches in 23 days. This demands a great deal of effort and high concentration from everyone to maintain our physical and mental readiness.".
Al-Shabab fans hope that this victory will be the real starting point for the team in the second round of the league, and that Pereira’s experience and the quality of players like Rakitic will contribute to achieving consecutive positive results and advancing up the standings.
