Al-Ahli's German coach, Matthias Jäissle, expressed complete satisfaction with his team's defensive performance in the intense derby match against Al-Hilal, which ended in a draw in the 20th round of the Saudi Professional League. Jäissle emphasized that his team delivered a top-level tactical performance, while also expressing his surprise at some of the referee's decisions during the game.
Ironclad defense system
In the post-match press conference, Yassle emphasized that the team's defensive solidity was the most significant gain from the match. He explained, "The match was tough and challenging, as we expected, and in such high-stakes encounters, small details determine the outcome." He added that Al-Hilal, despite its well-known attacking prowess, was unable to create any real danger for Al-Ahli's goal, reflecting the high level of organization and discipline of his players. He affirmed that the team did not enter the match aiming for a draw, but rather for a win, and that their outstanding defensive performance was the defining characteristic throughout the ninety minutes.
The context and importance of the match
This result comes in the context of an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has attracted international stars and raised the level of competition. Matches between Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal are considered the "classic" of Saudi football, carrying significant historical weight and intense rivalry. Given that Al-Hilal leads the standings and has been delivering impressive performances, Al-Ahli's draw, coming back to the top flight, is a very positive result, reflecting the significant improvement in the team's performance under Yassla's leadership and its ability to compete with the strongest teams in the league.
The impact of the result and the team's ambitions
This point strengthens Al-Ahli's position in the league standings and bolsters their ambitions to compete for top spots that qualify them for continental competitions next season. It also gives the players a tremendous morale boost and confirms that the team is on the right track to building a sporting project capable of strongly competing for titles in the future. Regionally, matches like this demonstrate the strength and competitiveness of the Saudi League, which has become a focus of attention for fans worldwide.
Comments on the refereeing
Yassle's remarks also touched on the refereeing, as he expressed his surprise at some of the decisions made by the match official. He stated, "Our players entered the match aiming to win tackles and play aggressively and aggressively, but we were surprised to find fouls being called against us for balls that were completely recovered." He concluded by emphasizing that the pressure of the season necessitates taking each match as it comes, and that his team delivered a commendable performance in this difficult encounter.
