Uruguayan Daniel Carreño, the manager of Al-Riyadh Club, expressed his deep sadness and great concern following the defeat his team suffered against Al-Hazm, with a score of two goals to one, in the match that brought them together as part of the competitions of the twelfth round of the Saudi Professional League, which was held at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium (Al-Malaz) in the capital, Riyadh.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Carreno highlighted a specific technical and physical problem plaguing the team, saying, "Al-Riyadh clearly suffers from the players' short stature, which is a major issue for us and has caused us difficulties in recent matches, especially with high balls and aerial duels." The veteran coach confirmed his intention to change the team's playing strategy to overcome this problem in upcoming matches.
Cariño added frankly about the team's situation: "Certainly, expectations always indicate that changing the coach means an immediate improvement in results, but unfortunately this has not happened with us so far. Our current position in the standings is very worrying, but on the other hand, we have succeeded in raising the players' physical condition, and we will continue to work hard to help the team get out of this slump and return to winning ways.".
Roshan League Challenges and the Struggle for Survival
Carreno's comments come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing unprecedented competitiveness. The influx of international stars has raised the technical and physical level of all clubs, making the task even more difficult for newly promoted teams or those battling relegation. Every point this season is doubly valuable, especially in matches between closely matched teams, such as the Riyadh-Hazm clash.
Carreno's experience in Saudi stadiums
It's worth noting that Daniel Carreño is no stranger to Saudi football, boasting an impressive coaching record, most notably his previous golden era with Al-Nassr, where he led the team to numerous titles. He has also coached other clubs such as Al-Wahda and Al-Shabab. The Al-Riyadh club's management and fans are counting on the Uruguayan coach's extensive experience to lift the team out of the relegation zone and find tactical solutions to compensate for technical and physical deficiencies, such as the "short stature" issue he mentioned, in order to secure their place in the top flight.
The match ended with Al-Hazm winning 2-1, adding to the woes of Al-Riyadh, who are striving to correct their course in the upcoming rounds to avoid getting caught up in the complex relegation calculations early in the season.
