In a live comment following the end of the match, the Portuguese coach of Al-Ittihad, Conceição, revealed the technical and psychological reasons that led to his team’s draw against Damac with one goal each, in the match that brought them together on Tuesday evening, as part of the fifteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Performance analysis: Lack of spirit and rectifying the situation
During the post-match press conference, Conceição offered a frank analysis of the game, clearly highlighting the stark contrast in the Tigers' performance between the two halves. The Portuguese coach emphasized that the team suffered noticeably in the first half from a lack of attacking intensity and their usual fighting spirit, allowing the opposition to impose their style of play at times.
Conceição added that the picture changed completely in the second half, as the players appeared at a distinguished level and more organized, reflecting their ability to come back in matches, but that was not enough to collect all three points.
The context of the competition and the challenges of the Roshan League
This draw comes at a time when Saudi football is witnessing tremendous development and fierce competition, with matches against mid-table teams like Damac no longer a walk in the park for the big clubs. This result highlights the difficulty of the Roshan League this season, where clubs boast strong defensive organization and talented foreign players capable of challenging the top teams. This places additional pressure on the coaching staff of popular clubs like Al-Ittihad to maintain their winning streak.
Promises of correction and continued work
Speaking about the future, the Al-Ittihad coach emphasized that the coaching staff is working intensively and daily with the players to improve both their collective and individual performance. Conceição promised Al-Ittihad fans that they would continue to work hard in the coming period, stressing that the main objective is to make up for lost points and quickly return to winning ways to compete for the top positions.
Al-Ittihad's position in the standings
In numerical terms, this draw reflects the team's inconsistent results this season, with Al-Ittihad suffering three draws and three defeats, while managing to secure eight victories. With this result, after 15 rounds of the competition, Al-Ittihad's points tally remains at 27, placing them sixth in the Roshan League standings. This is a position the club aims to improve in the upcoming rounds to secure a place befitting its history and the aspirations of its vast fan base.
