The Portuguese technical director of Al-Fateh team, Mr. Gomes, stressed the difficulty and importance of the upcoming match that will bring his team together with Al-Shabab, stressing the need to maintain the mental toughness and fighting spirit that the team has shown in recent rounds to ensure a positive result.
Gomez's comments on the strength of the youth
During the press conference held on Thursday to discuss the team's preparations, Gomez explained that the match would not be a walk in the park, saying: "The upcoming match will be very difficult; Al-Shabab is a respectable team with a great history, and they have distinguished players, some of whom have recently returned from injury, which is a strong addition to them. Despite that, we have studied their weaknesses and we will work to exploit them.".
Praise for Imanol Alguacil's style
The Portuguese coach also spoke about his counterpart on the youth team's bench, Spanish coach Imanol Alguacil, praising him and describing him as a great coach. Gomes added, "Alguacil is the type of coach who prefers a high-pressing, relentless style of play, and this requires extra focus from us. We must maintain the winning mentality we acquired in the previous two matches. Every match has its own circumstances, but fighting spirit is the key to victory.".
The context of the competition and the importance of the match
This match is of particular importance given the two teams' positions in the Saudi Professional League standings. The Saudi league has witnessed tremendous development and fierce competition in recent years, with no easy matches anymore, and the technical gap narrowing thanks to international recruitment and advanced tactical approaches. Facing a team of Al-Shabab's stature is always a true test for any coach, given the club's rich history as one of the pillars of Saudi football, which motivates its players to fight fiercely to improve their league position.
Focus on current elements
Regarding the winter transfer market, Gomez preferred to focus entirely on the current squad, saying: "The winter transfers have already started, but my focus is entirely on the group I have now and the possibilities available to me to achieve the best results," in a clear indication of his desire to boost the confidence of his current players before engaging in new signings.
Match date and team standings
Al-Fateh Stadium is scheduled to host this crucial match at 4:10 PM next Saturday, as part of the 13th round of the Roshan League. Al-Fateh enters the match in 12th place with 11 points, aiming to climb towards a more comfortable position in the standings, while Al-Shabab is struggling in an unusual situation, occupying 15th place with 8 points. This makes the match a "battle of attrition" for both teams as they fight to escape the relegation zone.
