Frenchman Christophe Galtier, the technical director of Neom, revealed the technical and tactical reasons that led him to rely on defender Khalifa Al-Dossari in the right-back position during the strong match that brought his team together with Al-Hazm, which ended with a valuable victory for Neom.
In the post-match press conference, Galtier explained that the decision was not made by chance, but rather based on careful technical consultation from his coaching staff. The French coach said, "One of my assistants previously worked at Al-Hilal, and he confirmed to me that Khalifa Al-Dossari has the ability to play in that position, having previously played as a right-back for his former club.".
This forced tactical change comes amidst difficult circumstances facing Neom's defense, with Galtier pointing out the team's struggles with key absences in that position. The coach confirmed that both Abdulmalik Al-Ayiri and Mohammed Al-Breik are suffering from injuries that could sideline them for an extended period, necessitating the search for alternative solutions within the available squad to maintain the team's defensive balance.
Khalifa Al-Dossari is one of the prominent names who joined the ranks of the ambitious NEOM project during the last summer transfer window, arriving from Al-Hilal. The player's tactical flexibility and ability to play in multiple positions in the back line, whether as a center-back or full-back, are considered an added advantage that the coaching staff, led by Galtier, are counting on, especially given the fierce competition the team is facing this season.
This match holds particular significance for NEOM FC, as the 2-1 victory against a strong team like Al-Hazm reflects the strong character that coach Galtier is trying to instill in his players. The NEOM Sports Club project is one of the most prominent emerging sports projects in the Kingdom, having attracted leading international and local players with the aim of rising to prominence and competing strongly in upcoming competitions. This makes every technical decision and every point in the league crucial for the team's future.
It is worth noting that the match, which took place on Sunday evening as part of the thirteenth round of competitions, witnessed a tactical superiority for Neom, as the team continued its strong performances and its relentless pursuit of the season’s goals, benefiting from the expertise of its world-class coach and the quality of its local and foreign players.
