Senegalese star Kalidou Koulibaly, the rock of Al-Hilal's defense, emphasized that his team's victory over Al-Ettifaq was anything but easy. He praised the strong performance and character displayed by "The Boss" (Al-Hilal's nickname) in securing the win in their Saudi Professional League match. Koulibaly explained that his team deserved the three points after the tremendous effort the players put in on the pitch.
In his post-match comments following Al-Hilal's 2-0 victory, Coulibaly said: “The match started with clear difficulty. Al-Ettifaq came into the game in excellent form, having gone undefeated in their last 14 matches, which made our task even more challenging.” He added: “The team needed to exert a great deal of effort, especially after scoring the first goal, which gave us the advantage and made things relatively easier. In the second half, we had to double our efforts to maintain our lead and secure the win, given the strength of our opponents and their desire to come back.”.
The context of the match and its importance in the title race
This crucial victory comes at a time when the battle for the 2023-2024 Saudi Professional League title is heating up, a season marked by unprecedented competition thanks to the influx of elite international football stars. With this win, Al-Hilal solidified its position at the top of the standings, raising its points tally to 53 and widening the gap with its closest rivals, representing a significant step towards reclaiming the title. The importance of the match lies in the fact that it was against a well-organized and strong team that has proven itself to be one of the toughest opponents in the league under the guidance of English coach Steven Gerrard, thus giving Al-Hilal's victory added technical and moral value.
Growing international influence of the Saudi League
Saudi Pro League matches are no longer just local events; they have become a focus of attention for fans worldwide. The presence of world-class players like Koulibaly, who boasts extensive experience in European leagues with clubs such as Napoli and Chelsea, lends significant credibility to the strength of the competition. His comments about the difficulty of the matches reflect the new competitive reality of the league and confirm that achieving victories requires the highest levels of performance. This win for Al-Hilal, with its undefeated record, solidifies its image as a footballing force not only domestically but also continentally.
Koulibaly emphasized that Al-Hilal's players displayed clear determination and strong character to secure the victory, affirming that the team successfully imposed their style and deservedly earned the win. Regarding his future with the club, the Senegalese defender expressed his immense happiness at remaining with the "Leaders," saying, "The most important thing for me is the team's success. I feel the confidence of the management, the fans, and my teammates, and I look forward to achieving more successes and championships in the coming period.".
