Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição , manager of Al-Ittihad, expressed his complete satisfaction and immense happiness with his team's resounding 4-1 victory over Al-Shabab. This decisive win came in the quarter-finals of the King's Cup, held at Al-Inma Stadium, securing Al-Ittihad's place in the semi-finals of the Kingdom's most prestigious tournament.
In the post-match press conference, Conceição analyzed his team's performance, saying: "It's a very important victory at this crucial stage of the season. We've overcome a major obstacle, but we still have the semi-finals and final to achieve our goal. We will use the upcoming break to work on improving some tactical and technical aspects of the team.".
Context and importance of the tournament
The King's Cup is of paramount importance in Saudi football, not only for its financial value but also for its prestigious historical standing as the oldest domestic tournament. Winning it represents a major achievement, guaranteeing the winner a direct spot in the AFC Champions League, thus adding a strategic dimension to the competition. For a club of Al-Ittihad's stature, with its rich history in this competition, progressing towards the title is both a popular demand and a primary objective for the club's management.
The difference from previous performance
Conceição didn't hesitate to compare the team's performance in this match to previous encounters where they hadn't fared well, implicitly acknowledging the team's inconsistent form. He explained, "Today's match is certainly different from the previous one; every match has its own circumstances. We prepared well for this game, unlike the last one where we weren't successful, whether due to player-related issues or off-field factors. Even on a personal level, there are days when things go well and others when things aren't quite right.".
The impact of winning and the principle of collective responsibility
This victory restores confidence to the team and its fans, and reaffirms Al-Ittihad's ability to compete strongly for domestic titles. Coach Conceição emphasized his philosophy of teamwork, refusing to place the blame solely on the defense for the goals conceded. He concluded his remarks by saying, “The team consists of 11 players, and the defense cannot be held solely responsible for the goals. Defensively and offensively, when the team concedes a goal, the entire team shares the responsibility, and the same applies offensively when we score. A prime example of this is the second goal scored by defender Hassan Kadash, which proves that we attack and defend as a unified unit.”.
