The Italian coach of Al-Hilal, Simone Inzaghi, expressed his great happiness at his team’s ability to seize the top spot in the Saudi Professional League standings in its current edition, after achieving a valuable and well-deserved 2-0 victory over their counterpart Damac, in the match that brought them together on Sunday evening as part of the competitions of the thirteenth round.
Praise for the players' tactical maturity
During the post-match press conference, Inzaghi heaped praise on his players, highlighting their professionalism throughout the match. The Italian coach stated, "The players displayed remarkable maturity and demonstrated their understanding of how to handle such crucial games, which demand patience and unwavering focus.".
Inzaghi stressed that keeping a clean sheet against a well-organized team like Damac is a very positive sign, noting that the team deserved the three points after successfully neutralizing the opponent's threat and not conceding any goals, which reflects the defensive development of the group.
A "step-by-step" philosophy towards the title
The Italian coach stressed that reaching the top spot is not the end goal, but rather the beginning of a phase that requires redoubled effort. He explained that his priority at the moment is maintaining the upward trajectory and mental focus of the players, saying: "We are improving with every match, and we are working step by step. The players must maintain their complete focus, as the competition is long and arduous.".
The context of the competition and the importance of being first
This victory brings Al-Hilal's points tally to 32, giving them the top spot in the Roshan League, just one point ahead of their traditional rivals, Al-Nassr, who have dropped to second place. This lead is particularly significant given the intense competition in the Saudi League this season, with clubs attracting international stars and the unprecedented rise in the league's overall level of play, making every point crucial in the title race.
Al-Hilal and the culture of victories
It is worth noting that Al-Hilal, known as "The Leader," boasts a long history of dominating domestic and continental championships, and its fans always anticipate seeing the team at the top of the standings. This result provides a tremendous morale boost for the Blue team as they continue their journey towards reclaiming titles and reaffirming their status as one of the strongest clubs in Asia, especially given the growing global interest in the Roshan League.
