Tunisian coach Jalal Qadri, manager of Al-Hazm FC, attributed his team's defeat against Al-Ahli to the significant difference in quality and depth of Al-Ahli's bench, or what he called their "human resources." This came in his post-match comments following the game between the two teams in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, which was held at Al-Hazm's home stadium.
Qadri explained in the press conference: “We played a tough match against a distinguished team with high-caliber players. We succeeded in neutralizing their attacking threat during the first half and prevented them from scoring any goals thanks to the players' tactical discipline.” The former Tunisian national team coach praised his players' efforts in the first half, as they managed to keep pace with Al Ahly's high tempo and secure a goalless draw.
General context and competition in the Roshan League
This match comes amidst an exceptional season for the Saudi Professional League, which has garnered global attention after attracting international stars. Al-Ahli, recently promoted back to the top flight and one of the clubs that has benefited significantly from the sports investment and privatization project, occupies a prominent position in the standings and is striving to compete for a spot in the AFC Champions League. In contrast, Al-Hazm faces a precarious situation at the bottom of the table, approaching every match as if it were a final in their battle to avoid relegation, highlighting the stark contrast in ambitions and resources between the two clubs.
The difference in capabilities and its impact on the course of the match
Qadri continued his analysis of the match, pointing to the shifts that occurred in the second half: “In the second half, we were forced to make several substitutions due to fatigue and the constant pressure of this busy month of matches.” He added: “I tried to focus on avoiding injuries among the players. Al-Ahli outperformed us with their superior resources; I don’t have the same quality of players on the bench to make a difference.” Qadri’s statements reflect the reality faced by many clubs in the league, where Al-Ahli boasts a star-studded squad including Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Franck Kessié, and Édouard Mendy, giving their coach the ability to rotate players and maintain a high level of performance for the full 90 minutes—something Al-Hazm lacks.
Expected impact of the match result
Domestically, this result strengthens Al-Ahli's position in the top four, bringing them one step closer to achieving their seasonal goals. For Al-Hazm, however, this loss makes their survival task even more difficult and puts added pressure on the team in the remaining rounds of the competition. Despite the defeat, Qadri concluded his remarks on an optimistic note: "We are emerging from this difficult run of matches and hope to regain our form in the upcoming games and achieve positive results that will help us improve our position.".
