The veteran Irish coach, Brendan Rodgers, the technical director of Al-Qadisiyah Club, expressed his deep satisfaction with the performance and result achieved by his team in winning three goals to one against their host Al-Najma, in the match that took place on Sunday evening as part of the eighteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
In the post-match press conference, Rodgers not only praised the three points but also emphasized his players' mental and emotional state. He said, "I'm very happy with the result, especially coming after such a short recovery period following our tough match against Al-Ittihad. This shows the players' professionalism and their ability to handle the pressure of consecutive matches.".
Background and importance of winning in the context of the season
This victory comes at a crucial stage of the season for Al-Qadisiyah, who are striving to establish themselves among the elite in the Saudi Professional League after their promotion. The appointment of a manager of Brendan Rodgers' caliber, with his extensive experience in the English Premier League with clubs like Liverpool and Leicester City, is seen as a strategic move reflecting the club's high ambitions amidst the dramatic transformation of the Saudi league and its attraction of some of the world's top coaches and players. Winning against teams like Al-Najma is essential to building momentum and achieving stability in the standings before facing bigger challenges.
The team's reaction and its future impact
One aspect Rodgers particularly praised was the team's reaction after Al-Najma equalized. He explained, "What pleased me most was the players' reaction when we were level. They didn't lose focus; they showed great character and a desire to get back in front, and that's what happened. This is the mentality we're building on for the future, and it's what distinguishes great teams." He added that the team's improved performance and consecutive positive results are the fruit of hard work in training.
The coach concluded his remarks with a humorous touch that elicited a reaction from the audience, as he referred to the unexpectedly cold weather, saying: “I didn’t expect the weather to be this cold in Saudi Arabia. I will certainly make sure to bring a heavier coat to the upcoming matches.”.
Al-Qadisiyah is now preparing for what can be considered the toughest test this season, as it will host Al-Hilal, the league leader and one of the strongest teams in the continent, on Thursday evening as part of the nineteenth round of the league.
