Brazilian coach Pericles Chamusca, manager of Al-Taawoun FC, expressed his regret over his team's 1-0 loss to Al-Ettifaq in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. Despite the disappointing result, Chamusca emphasized in the post-match press conference that his team performed well and were statistically the better side on the pitch.
Superiority without translation
Shamouska explained that the numbers and statistics of the match support his point of view, saying: “The statistics show our clear superiority over the opponent, especially in ball possession and field control. We created many opportunities that could have changed the course of the match, but unfortunately the players were unable to translate this superiority into goals against the opponent, which ultimately cost us the three points.”.
General context and the impact of fatigue
This loss comes at a crucial stage of the season, as the battle intensifies among Roshan League teams for the top spots that qualify for Asian competitions. Al-Taawoun, considered the dark horse of the tournament this season, occupies a high position in the standings, making every point lost crucial in the race for a top-four finish. Shamouska attributed part of the decline in attacking effectiveness to the physical and mental fatigue suffered by the players, noting that "the pressure of consecutive matches, playing a game every three days, places a heavy burden on the players and affects their focus and physical reserves, which was clearly evident in the final touch in front of goal.".
Confidence in the current group
Despite the challenges, the Brazilian coach affirmed his complete confidence in the current group of players. He addressed the changes that occurred during the winter transfer window, which saw the departure of some prominent players, but emphasized his belief in the ability of the remaining players to compensate for the absences and continue delivering strong performances. He concluded his remarks by saying, “I trust all the players we have. It’s true that we lost some key players, but we have a complete team capable of achieving our goals. Now we must put this match behind us and focus on the upcoming games to get back on track and return to winning ways.”.
