Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers, the head coach of Al-Qadisiyah's first football team, expressed his great happiness with the valuable victory his team achieved against their host Al-Shabab, with a score of three goals to two, in the strong match that brought the two teams together as part of the competitions of the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League for the current season.
In the post-match press conference, Rodgers spoke candidly about the game, praising his players' heroic performance in the first half while acknowledging a slight dip in form in the second. Rodgers said, "We played a very strong and tactically astute game against a tough opponent like Al Shabab. Our team showed great character and attacking prowess in the first half, and we were able to convert our chances into goals, which gave us the advantage.".
The former Liverpool and Leicester City manager added: "We had a somewhat slow start to the second half, and the opposition's reaction was to be expected given they were behind and playing at home in front of their fans. But we will learn from our mistakes and work on improving our game management in the final minutes." Rodgers expressed his complete confidence in his current squad, saying: "The players possess exceptional technical and physical abilities, and the team is developing and becoming more cohesive with each match. Our objective is clear: to continue our winning streak and climb the league table.".
Al-Qadisiyah's ambitious project and the impact of winning
This victory underscores the seriousness of Al-Qadisiyah's project, recently returned to the Saudi Professional League and strongly backed by Aramco. The club aims to break the dominance of the traditional "Big Four" clubs. The appointment of a world-class coach like Brendan Rodgers, with his extensive experience in the English Premier League and the Scottish Premiership, is clear evidence of Al-Qadisiyah's high ambitions to compete for Asian Champions League qualification this season.
The victory over Al-Shabab on their home ground holds particular significance, as Al-Shabab is considered a cornerstone of Saudi football. Winning against them in Riyadh sends a strong message to the other competitors that Al-Qadisiyah will not be merely a participant in the Saudi Professional League, but a fierce competitor possessing the technical and tactical tools necessary to challenge the top teams. This victory boosts the players' confidence and gives the coaching staff more room to work calmly to implement their football philosophy based on possession and high pressing.
Rodgers concluded by emphasizing the team's commitment to the game plan, saying, "We came to Al Shabab Stadium with great determination and a strong desire to win. We presented our plan to the players, and they executed it well. We managed to score three goals, and we will continue to work in this upward trajectory." With this result, Al Qadsia continues its strong performances and positive results, solidifying its position in the comfortable mid-table and closing the gap with the leading teams.
