In a move reflecting his anger and desire for a swift turnaround, Al-Ittihad's Portuguese manager, Sergio Conceição, made a firm decision regarding the first-team players. This action came after the disappointing performance and crushing defeat suffered by "Al-Ameed" (the Dean) against their traditional rivals, Al-Ahli, in the match that brought the two giants together as part of the 25th round of the Saudi Professional League.
Conceição's surprising decision was his firm refusal to grant the players any rest from training, a common practice after big matches to avoid fatigue. The Portuguese coach insisted on an immediate resumption of training, sending a clear message that there is no room for complacency and that hard work is the only way to overcome the derby setback.
Dimensions of the Jeddah derby and the long history of the rivalry
This defeat cannot be viewed simply as a loss of three points in the league race; it must be placed within its historical and popular context. The Jeddah derby between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli is one of the oldest and fiercest football rivalries in the Arab world and the Middle East. Historically, matches between the two teams are characterized by extreme sensitivity and intense competition, with winning the derby considered a championship in itself for the fans, regardless of the teams' positions in the league standings.
This historical momentum clearly explains the severity of Conceição's decision , as the coach realizes that losing by a score of three goals to one on the home ground leaves a deep psychological impact on both fans and players, which calls for urgent technical and administrative intervention to absorb the public anger and restore the group's technical discipline.
The impact of the defeat on the Roshan Professional League map
From a technical standpoint and in terms of its impact on the standings, this loss comes at a critical juncture in the Roshan League. With the competition heating up in the final rounds, dropping points becomes a costly mistake that could jeopardize the team's chances of reaching the top spots or qualifying for continental competitions. A defeat against a direct rival like Al-Ahly not only means losing points but also gives the opponent a significant morale and points boost, further complicating Al-Ittihad's calculations for the remaining matches.
Conceição, through his decision to cancel the rest period, seeks to take advantage of the time factor to address the defensive errors that were clearly evident during the match, and to work on raising the fitness and mental level of the players to ensure that such results are not repeated in the near future, especially since the Saudi League has become the focus of the world’s attention and includes an elite group of international football stars, which raises the level of expectations and accountability.
It is worth noting that the match held at Al-Inma Stadium witnessed a clear Al-Ahli superiority, as “Al-Raqui” succeeded in beating Al-Ittihad’s net with three goals, while Al-Ittihad only managed to score a single consolation goal, a result that prompted the technical staff to declare a state of emergency within the club.
