Portuguese Armando Evangelista, the head coach of Damac FC, expressed his pride and appreciation for the heroic performance of his players during the difficult match against Al-Ittihad, which ended in a 1-1 draw, in the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Fighting spirit and tactical discipline
In the post-match press conference, Evangelista emphasized that the match was far from easy, given the strength of the opponent and their prominent position in Saudi and Asian football. The coach explained that the valuable point his team secured was not a fluke, but rather the result of organized teamwork and the high fighting spirit displayed by the players throughout the ninety minutes. He pointed out that the defensive and offensive organization on the field was the decisive factor in neutralizing the threat posed by Al-Ittihad's star players.
Player sacrifices and positional changes
The Damac coach revealed precise technical details that the team faced before and during the match, praising the great sacrifices made by the players, noting that many of them had to participate in positions other than their original positions to fill gaps and the numerical shortage, yet they showed amazing tactical commitment and applied the instructions to the letter, reflecting a high professional mentality and a real desire to serve the team.
A strong message regarding local and foreign players
Speaking about the team's lineup, Evangelista delivered an important message to the sports community, pointing out that his team played the match with only three foreign players against a team packed with international stars. He stated, "We played with three foreign players and proved that there is no fundamental difference between local and foreign players when confidence and hard work are present." He added that the team had clear scoring opportunities, especially in the second half, demonstrating their complete belief in their chances and their ability to compete with the top teams and remain in the top league.
The context of the competition and the importance of the result
This result is particularly significant given the technical and financial disparities between the two clubs. Al-Ittihad (the Dean) is one of the giants of Saudi football and a perennial title contender, while Damac is striving to secure a comfortable mid-table position. Coach Evangelista deserves credit for his ability to extract the best from his local players, which bodes well for the team's future in the upcoming rounds of the league, which is witnessing unprecedented competition this season.
The Portuguese coach concluded his remarks by emphasizing that work will continue at the same pace in order to develop and correct mistakes, to ensure that the team continues to deliver levels worthy of its fans and the club's management.
