Northern Irish coach Brendan Rodgers, manager of Al-Qadisiyah, confirmed that the valuable victory his team achieved in the last round of the Roshan Professional League against Al-Ittihad has become part of the past, stressing the need to focus fully on the upcoming challenges to ensure the continuation of the team’s upward trajectory.
In a video released by Al-Qadisiyah's media center, Rodgers explained his philosophy for approaching big matches, saying, "Humility is always important, regardless of the result, because the Al-Ittihad match is now part of our history, and we must look ahead and focus on the next game." This statement comes at a time of fierce competition in the Saudi league, and a victory over a team of Al-Ittihad's stature sends a strong message confirming Al-Qadisiyah's return to serious contention among the elite clubs, especially given the ambitious sporting project the club is undertaking.
Winning mentality and Nacho's leadership role
The veteran manager, who has previously coached major European clubs such as Liverpool and Celtic, noted that the level of performance was very high, adding: "We will review and analyze the positive moments we had, but as I said, our main focus is on improving performance." Rodgers also touched on the importance of a professional mentality within the dressing room, praising in particular Spanish star Nacho Fernandez.
Rodgers said: "The team mentality is good, and we have Nacho, a fantastic leader who understands the meaning of winning and how to keep the team winning time after time. I'm keen, along with Nacho, to ensure the players understand the importance of humility." Rodgers' praise for Nacho carries particular weight given the extensive experience of the Spanish defender, who arrived from Real Madrid and possesses a winning mentality, making him a key figure in transferring world-class experience to Al-Qadisiyah's young players.
Recovery and scientific preparation for matches
Speaking about the physical aspects, Rodgers stressed the importance of rapid recovery under the pressure of matches, saying: "It is of course important to celebrate success, but when it comes to performance and development, we must always look ahead. The sharpness that the team shows in every match because of the recovery processes is very important, and the players are committed to it.".
He added, explaining the team's schedule: "We started preparing for the Al-Najma match immediately after the final whistle… All the players began their recovery sessions with the sports science team and the medical staff in the locker room, and they are a fantastic team. Physically, the team is in very good shape." This attention to detail reflects the qualitative leap in managing technical and medical matters within Al-Qadsia Club, which contributes to maintaining the players' readiness throughout the season.
Al-Najma match and league standings
Al-Qadsia is preparing to face Al-Najma at 6:20 PM, in the 17th round of the Roshan League. Al-Qadsia enters the match in fourth place with 36 points, aiming to solidify its position in the top four, while Al-Najma struggles at the bottom of the table with only 4 points. Rodgers confirmed that the team's preparations remain unchanged regardless of the opponent, whether they are a top or bottom-ranked team, reflecting the coaching staff's complete seriousness in approaching all stages of the tournament.
