Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, manager of Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, expressed his immense satisfaction with his team's valuable victory in their recent continental match, emphasizing that the win was the result of hard work and intensive preparation over the past period. "The Boss" continues to deliver exceptional performances in the AFC Champions League, a tournament Al-Hilal is striving to reclaim and reaffirm its dominance in Asia, building on its rich history as the most decorated club in Asian competitions.
Al-Hilal's continental dominance and continued winning streak
This victory further solidifies Al Hilal's position at the forefront of Asian football, as the team enjoys a period of exceptional form both technically and physically. This match holds particular significance as it comes within a 14-match winning streak, a record that reflects the club's technical and administrative stability. The AFC Champions League, in its new format, presents a significant challenge for Saudi clubs, but Al Hilal continues to demonstrate its ability to adapt to the pressure of matches and fierce competition.
Jesus: Special circumstances surrounded Savic's participation
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jesus revealed detailed tactical information about the team's lineup, saying: "I am very happy with the result and the performance of the players. We had a 21-day preparation period to get ready for this match, and it was a great game with many scoring opportunities. We could have increased our goal tally, but the most important thing in the end is to come away with the three points.".
The Portuguese coach also spoke about Serbian star Sergej Savic, explaining that the player pushed himself for the sake of the team, adding: "We played the match under special circumstances; Savic was supposed to be a starter as usual, but some minor problems appeared before the match. We asked the players to sacrifice and deliver an exceptional performance, and that is what actually happened, as Savic and the players showed a high fighting spirit.".
Praise for Al-Rubaie and the rotation policy in goalkeeping
Regarding the goalkeeping position, Jesus praised the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie, who defended his goal valiantly, emphasizing that Al-Hilal has a strong bench in all positions. Jesus said, "Today it was clear that Mohammed Al-Rubaie delivered a very good performance. Everyone is showing great form in training, and we also have the young goalkeeper Abu Rasin. I choose the most suitable goalkeeper based on the specific circumstances of each match and the team's tactical needs.".
The technical director concluded his remarks by addressing a message to Al-Hilal fans, stressing that work continues daily to improve the team from the goalkeeping line to the attack, and that the fans’ support is the real fuel to continue this series of victories and achieve the aspirations of the Blue fans everywhere.
