In statements reflecting the reality of the situation, the Spanish technical director of the youth team, Imanol Alguacil, acknowledged the overwhelming superiority shown by the Al-Ittihad team, which led to his team's exit from the King's Cup tournament after a heavy defeat of four goals to one in the quarter-finals.
During the post-match press conference, Alguacil didn't offer flimsy excuses, but rather clearly stated that "Al-Ittihad were far superior to us," acknowledging that his opponents possessed players of higher quality who ultimately decided the match. He explained that his players tried to put on a competitive performance, but the gap in readiness and capabilities was evident on the pitch.
Suffering on two fronts
The coach, who boasts an impressive track record with Real Sociedad in Spain, highlighted the significant challenges he has faced since taking the helm at Al-Shabab. He emphasized that the numerous injuries plaguing the team were a major factor in their declining performance, noting that some players who returned for the Al-Ittihad match had not yet reached full physical and technical fitness. He added, "We are competing in two different tournaments, which is extremely demanding, especially with the high injury rate within the squad.".
The importance of the championship and the impact of losing
The King's Cup is of paramount importance in Saudi football, not only for its historical significance but also because it represents a direct path to qualification for the AFC Champions League. With this loss, Al-Shabab misses a valuable opportunity to compete for a prestigious title and places additional pressure on the team in the Saudi Professional League and the Arabian Gulf Cup, which have become their only remaining hope of salvaging the season. On the other hand, this victory represents a tremendous morale boost for Al-Ittihad, who continue their steady march towards winning the cup.
A look towards the future
Despite the bitterness of defeat, Alguacil maintained a cautiously optimistic tone, emphasizing his confidence in his team's ability to perform better in the future. He said, "Despite everything, we're not far behind in the league standings, and we're still competing in the Gulf Cup. I'm certain that when the team is at full strength and injury-free, its level will be much higher.".
