Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, manager of Al-Hilal, expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance against Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, a match that ended in a victory for "Al-Za'eem" (The Boss), allowing them to continue their impressive winning streak and maintain their position at the top of the standings. In the post-match press conference, Inzaghi provided a detailed analysis of his players' performance, highlighting significant improvement in specific tactical aspects and singling out midfielder Mohamed Kanno for special praise.
Background and context of the match in the league
This victory comes amidst an exceptional season for Al-Hilal, who maintain an unbeaten record in the league, achieving a series of consecutive wins that have placed them comfortably at the top of the standings. Every match is of paramount importance in the team's quest to reclaim the league title, especially against well-organized teams like Al-Ettifaq, led by English coach Steven Gerrard. This win serves as further confirmation of Al-Hilal's strength and readiness to compete on all fronts.
Inzaghi's analysis of the match
Inzaghi began by assessing the team's performance throughout the match, saying, "We played an excellent first half, maintaining a compact formation and scoring two goals, with the potential for more." He explained that their control in the first half was almost absolute thanks to their tactical discipline and high pressing. However, he noted a slight decline in the second half, adding, "In the second half, we created more space for the opposition, and they were able to create some dangerous opportunities." This analysis reflects the coach's mindset, one that strives for perfection and seeks to correct mistakes even in victory.
Special praise for Mohamed Kanno and the development of set pieces
Inzaghi singled out international player Mohamed Kanno for praise, emphasizing the importance of his continued high level of performance. He said, "Mohamed Kanno's performance and level are very good, and he must maintain this level." This praise will boost the confidence of the player, who is a key pillar in the midfield of both Al-Hilal and the Saudi national team. The coach also addressed an important technical point: set pieces, which had previously posed a challenge for the team. He concluded his remarks by saying, "Today we scored a goal from a set piece, and we also created a dangerous opportunity from another set piece. Even defensively, we were able to deal with the opponent's set pieces, and we can still improve further in this area." This statement underscores the tactical work being done by the coaching staff to develop all of the team's attacking and defensive weapons.
The future impact of winning
This victory reinforces Al Hilal's position as the top contender for the Roshan League title and sends a strong message to its rivals both domestically and continentally, especially with the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League approaching. The team's ability to secure the win while acknowledging areas for improvement reflects significant maturity and the winning mentality that Inzaghi is striving to instill in his squad to achieve even greater success.
