Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of Al-Ittihad's first football team, expressed his immense happiness at his team's valuable 2-0 victory over Al-Shabab. This intense match, part of the eleventh round of the Saudi Professional League, was held at Al-Inma Stadium and witnessed a large and enthusiastic crowd, reflecting the importance of the game as one of the highlights of Saudi football.
Tactical control and defensive discipline
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Conceição praised the high tactical performance of his Al-Ittihad players. The Portuguese coach said, "We played a great match today against a tough opponent like Al-Shabab. Our defensive organization was top-notch, with the opposition only managing to reach our goal and pose a real threat on two occasions throughout the ninety minutes." He added that this defensive solidity reflects the noticeable improvement in the team's playing system, emphasizing that the coming period will witness further improvement, especially since the squad is full of stars and distinguished players in every position.
A winning streak boosts confidence
Speaking about the importance of this victory, Conceição highlighted a positive statistic the team has achieved for the first time this season: their third consecutive win. He explained, "We've achieved our third consecutive victory for the first time this season, and this makes me very happy. It indicates the team's technical and psychological stability." This winning streak is of paramount importance in the Roshan League, where consistency and accumulating points are key to competing for the title amidst fierce competition from other clubs. The coach stressed the need to capitalize on this high morale to correct mistakes and continue their climb up the league table.
The truth about the situation with Ahmed Al-Ghamdi
Conceição didn't miss the opportunity to clarify the controversial incident with young player Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, putting an end to rumors that could disrupt the stability of the dressing room. He commented, "My conversation with Ahmed Al-Ghamdi is perfectly normal and happens in football. Everyone knows that I don't differentiate between local and foreign players; the criterion is performance on the field." He added, explaining the nature of the conversation, "I spoke with Al-Ghamdi to calm him down and guide him. He's a player with great potential and a strong desire to improve, and our goal as a coaching staff is to continue working in this way to enhance the performance of all the players and raise the overall level of the team.".
This victory confirms Al-Ittihad Club’s determination to return strongly to the competition, benefiting from the technical expertise of its coach and the quality of its players, in a season that is considered among the strongest in the history of the Saudi League due to the global recruitment and the size of the competition.
