Veteran French coach Christophe Galtier, the technical director of Neom Sports Club, confirmed that the upcoming match against Damac Club represents a pivotal moment and a crucial turning point in the team's journey this season, stressing that it is an ideal opportunity to correct mistakes and restore balance to strengthen the team's position in the Yellow League standings for first division clubs.
Background of the event and general context
This announcement comes at a time when NEOM FC, one of the most ambitious sports projects linked to Saudi Vision 2030, is striving to prove its worth and achieve its dream of promotion to the Saudi Professional League. The team is led by coach Galtier, who boasts a successful track record in Europe, most notably guiding Lille to the French league title and managing Paris Saint-Germain with its star-studded squad. Its presence in the Saudi First Division is a testament to the scale of investment and ambition witnessed in the Kingdom's sports sector at all levels.
Galtier's statements and his vision for the future
During the pre-match press conference, Galtier did not hide his frustration with certain aspects of the team's performance in the recent King's Cup match against Al-Ahli, saying, "I want to address the last match against Al-Ahli. Some moments disappointed me and prompted me to respond, but I am happy to be part of a large project focused on developing young players and raising the level of performance." He added firmly, "I hate losing and I don't want us to lose any match. High talent alone is not enough to achieve results; daily discipline and the coach's focus on player development are essential.".
The importance of the match and its expected impact
The match against Damac takes on added importance, as Galtier explained that the upcoming period will be crucial for the team's future in the league. In response to a question from Al-Midan Al-Riyadi, he said, "The next three matches will make a significant difference to our league standings, starting with the Damac game, and we are aiming to secure the three points to strengthen our position." A victory in this match will not only grant the team three valuable points but will also restore confidence to the players and coaching staff, confirming that the NEOM project is on the right track towards achieving its long-term goals, which extend beyond immediate results to building a comprehensive and sustainable sports system.
The French coach pointed out that the Neom club project is a long-term project and cannot be judged at the moment, stressing that he always seeks to implement his philosophy, which is based on high pressure and showing difficulties to the opposing team during matches, which requires tactical discipline and great physical effort from all players.
