In bold statements following the Saudi Clasico, Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of Al-Ittihad, asserted that his team performed better than league leaders Al-Hilal, despite playing with ten men for a significant portion of the match. This came after the thrilling draw between the two sides in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League at the Kingdom Arena.
The general context of the Saudi Clasico
The Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ittihad match is one of the most important and prestigious in the history of Saudi and Asian football, representing a historic rivalry between two giants of the sport representing the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. This season's match takes on added significance due to the fierce competition for the Roshan League title, which has garnered global attention after attracting international stars, thus raising the level of challenge and pressure in every encounter.
Details of Conceição's statements
During the press conference following the match, Conceição began by congratulating the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people on its National Day, expressing his pride and happiness at having been part of his sporting career in the Kingdom. Regarding the match, he said, “The match was not easy at all, and the red card shown to Kadesh made it even more difficult for us. It was a clash between two great teams with top-level players.”.
The Portuguese coach added confidently, “ With ten men, we were better than Al-Hilal . I congratulate the players on their heroic and courageous performance.” Conceição particularly praised young player Moussa Doumbia, saying, “I’m very happy with Doumbia’s performance, but he still needs to gain more experience and develop in many areas. When you perform at this level in a crucial position like midfield against such excellent players, you are undoubtedly a remarkable player.”
The match's impact on the league's course
Conceição explained that the sending-off forced him to change his tactics to compensate for the numerical disadvantage, a change his players executed brilliantly. While a draw might seem like a positive result for Al-Ittihad under these difficult circumstances, it represents a valuable point in the team's struggle to maintain a high position in the standings. As for Al-Hilal, they might see the result as a setback in their quest for the title, confirming that the Roshan League competition remains wide open and capable of producing surprises until the final rounds. This match reflects the high level of competitiveness and significant development the Saudi League is witnessing, both technically and in terms of overall competitiveness.
