German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of Al-Ahli, expressed his immense happiness and pride in the valiant performance of his players, which culminated in a valuable victory over their arch-rivals Al-Ittihad in the Jeddah derby , during the 25th round of the Saudi Professional League. The young coach emphasized that this victory was not a fluke, but rather the result of meticulous tactical and mental work to control the flow of the match.
Tactical control in the Jeddah derby
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jysle noted that the match was fantastic in every way, especially given the electric atmosphere created by the fans. He said, "I'm very proud of everything we achieved against a strong and determined opponent. We were able to impose our style and control the game for the full 90 minutes, and I'm extremely pleased with the team's performance under the pressure of a tight schedule." He explained that his philosophy in such big matches is based on pragmatism, as derbies are meant to be won, not just played, and the most important thing is securing the three points.
The legacy of the Red Sea derby and its popular impact
This victory holds special significance that transcends the mere three points in the league standings. The Al-Ahli vs. Al-Ittihad match, known as the "Red Sea Derby," is one of the oldest and fiercest rivalries in Arab and Asian football. This derby carries a long history of intense competition that divides the city of Jeddah in two, placing immense pressure on the coaching staff and players. A win in such a crucial match provides a tremendous morale boost for the remainder of the season and strengthens the fans' confidence in the team's project, something Yassla brilliantly achieved through his astute management of the game.
Roshan League race and Asian seats
Regarding the impact of the result on the championship race, Yassleh stressed the importance of maintaining focus, saying, "The most important thing in a derby is winning, but the league is a long marathon and nothing is decided yet. We still have many tough matches ahead." This statement comes at a crucial point in the season, as the battle for top spots that qualify for continental competitions (the AFC Champions League) intensifies, making a victory against a direct rival like Al-Ittihad a strategic move to strengthen Al-Ahli's position in the standings and widen the points gap.
Betting on local defense and the future of Al-Akhdar
In a related context, the German coach praised the development of local players, particularly in defense, given the absence of Turkish professional Merih Demiral. He added, "We missed Demiral and will play many matches without him, but I am very proud of the progress of the Saudi defenders." Yasle concluded by emphasizing that one of his objectives is to develop young talent, specifically mentioning players like Mohammed Bakr and Rayan Hamed. He stressed that this development benefits the Saudi national team and predicted that the national team officials would be proud of the high level of performance displayed by the local players in these demanding matches.
