Veteran Northern Irish coach Brendan Rodgers, manager of Al-Qadisiyah club, expressed his deep disappointment after his team’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Al-Fateh, in the match that brought them together on Saturday evening at Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium, as part of the twenty-first round of the Saudi Professional League.
During the post-match press conference, Rodgers made no secret of his disappointment with the result and the performance, stating: “I’m disappointed with the result; it’s been my worst game with the team. We’ve dropped two important points in our Roshan League campaign.” He added that this setback represents a blow to the team’s ambitions in the fierce competition for the top spots in the league table.
The context of the match and its importance in the Asian qualification race
This draw comes at a crucial time in the season for Al-Qadsia, considered the dark horse of the tournament. After their promotion to the Saudi Professional League this season, the team, backed by Aramco, has impressed under the guidance of world-class coach Brendan Rodgers, whose impressive resume includes stints with top clubs like Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester City. They have established themselves as strong contenders for a top-four finish and qualification for Asian competitions – a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side. Today's result has cost them two valuable points in their direct battle with Al-Ahli for third place, increasing the pressure on the players and coaching staff in the upcoming rounds.
Rodgers' technical analysis and the impact of absences
Rodgers acknowledged that the team was affected by the absence of some key players, noting that "Retegui's absence impacted some of the team's attacking options." However, the manager refused to use the absences as an excuse, praising his replacement, Carvalho, and emphasizing the need to cope with difficult circumstances. He continued, "We have to deal with the pressure of the fixtures and not leave room for excuses." This statement reflects the professional mindset Rodgers is trying to instill in the team: the necessity of finding solutions from the available squad to achieve the desired goals.
A vision for the future and a message to the fans
Despite the disappointment, Rodgers concluded his remarks on an optimistic note, expressing his confidence in his players' ability to overcome this setback. He said, "Al-Qadsia has outstanding players capable of bouncing back stronger, and we must learn from today's lesson and return to winning ways." With this draw, Al-Qadsia raised their points tally to 44, remaining in fourth place, three points behind Al-Ahli in third, intensifying the battle for AFC Champions League qualification spots in the final stages of the league season.
