Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of the Saudi Al-Ittihad football club, expressed his immense satisfaction and delight with the positive result his team achieved against their Uzbekistani visitors, Nasaf Qarshi. This valuable 1-0 victory came in their sixth group stage match of the AFC Champions League, held at Al-Inma Stadium.
Conceição defends his tactical choices
Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Portuguese coach defended his tactical decisions and starting lineup, emphasizing that football is always judged by results, with fans and analysts ultimately evaluating the game. Conceição said, "All due respect to our opponents, who played a strong match, but everyone is free to analyze and express their opinion after the final whistle. We know very well that if the team wins, the substitutions will be praised, and if the opposite happens, they will blame the coach's changes.".
The Al-Ittihad coach added in a confident tone: "If I could go back in time before the match, I would enter with the same formation and names, because I see them as the most suitable and most prepared based on our accurate technical analysis before the match and studying the opponent's weaknesses and strengths.".
The three points are the priority in the Asian race
Conceição stressed that the most important thing in such complex competitive matches is to come away with all three points, saying: "The most important thing in this match is to get the three points, which is what happened. Now we must turn the page and look ahead, and continue the winning streak at all local and continental levels to ensure qualification in advanced positions.".
Benzema continues to shine and scores the decisive goal
Technically speaking, Al-Ittihad owes this victory to its world-class star and captain, Frenchman Karim Benzema, who scored the only goal of the match with a brilliant individual effort, capitalizing on a perfectly weighted assist from his young teammate, Roger Fernandez. This goal not only secured the three points for Al-Ittihad but also strengthened the team's position in the West Zone standings of the AFC Champions League, bringing the "Dean" one step closer to the knockout stages.
The history of the Union and the ambition to restore continental glory
This victory takes on special significance given Al-Ittihad's rich history in Asian championships. The Jeddah-based team, nicknamed "Al-Mundiali" (The World Cup), is striving to reclaim its continental glory, having previously won the AFC Champions League title in two consecutive editions in 2004 and 2005 – a historic achievement still etched in the memory of Saudi and Asian fans.
Participation in the current edition, under its new name "AFC Champions League Elite," comes amidst significant challenges and fierce competition from clubs across the continent, making every point earned doubly valuable. Al-Ittihad fans are placing great hope in the experience of the team's international stars, led by Benzema, Kanté, and Fabinho, as well as the tactical acumen of coach Conceição, to go far in the tournament and compete for the title that has eluded the club for many years.
