French coach Christophe Galtier, manager of Neom FC, confirmed his team's readiness for the anticipated and challenging match against Al-Ittihad, emphasizing that the encounter requires a completely different tactical approach than what the team has used in their previous matches in the Yelo First Division League. This came during the pre-match press conference, where the experienced coach revealed the outlines of his strategy to neutralize the threat posed by Al-Ittihad.
A strategy of caution and high focus
Galtier explained that facing a team of Al-Ittihad's caliber, packed with international stars, leaves no room for error, saying: "If we want to achieve a positive result, we must give our best, because any mistake could cost us the match. It's important to maintain close lines, high concentration, and prevent the opponent from having any space." He added that the match will be a physical and mental battle, expressing his hope that his team will prove a strong and difficult opponent for their rivals.
Lyon memories: When Benzema was a youth player
Speaking about Al-Ittihad's stars, Galtier reminisced about his time at Olympique Lyonnais. The coach mentioned his long-standing relationship with Al-Ittihad's current captain, Karim Benzema, recalling that Galtier was assistant coach to Alain Perrin at Lyon when Benzema was promoted to the first team at the young age of 17. Galtier said, "I was an assistant coach when Karim Benzema was playing for Lyon at 17, and he's a world-class player." Despite this personal connection, Galtier emphasized that the plan wouldn't focus solely on stopping Benzema, but would encompass Al-Ittihad's entire attacking system.
Changing tactics and the ambition of the NEOM project
This match holds particular importance for NEOM FC, one of the Kingdom's most ambitious sports projects, as the club aims for promotion to the Saudi Professional League and to compete with the top teams. Coach Galtier admitted that the attacking performance in the previous match against Al-Najma was unsatisfactory, necessitating a radical change against Al-Ittihad. He stated, "Against Al-Ittihad, we will adopt a different playing style given the difficulty of the opponent… Al-Ittihad is an attacking team, and we expect to find space in front of us, and we will work to create many opportunities.".
The French coach concluded his remarks by pointing to the challenges posed by the absences, expressing his desire to break the barrier of negative results against big teams, and to achieve a surprise that reflects the development of the Neom team and its ability to compete at high levels, especially in light of the presence of strong elements in its ranks capable of making a difference.
