German coach Matthias Jäissle, manager of Al-Ahli's first football team, expressed mixed feelings after his team's match against Al-Kholoud, which ended with Al-Ahli winning by a single goal, as part of the sixteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
Yassla is dissatisfied with the artistic performance
In the post-match press conference, Yassle was frank and transparent in his assessment of the game. The young coach confirmed his complete dissatisfaction with the technical level displayed by Al-Ahli's players during the ninety minutes, indicating that the team possesses greater potential than what was shown on the pitch. Yassle explained that the match was tactically complex, something he had anticipated beforehand.
Difficulty in penetrating defensive formations
The German coach attributed the difficulty of the match to Al-Kholoud's playing style, which relied on a tight defensive formation and good organization in the back areas, making it difficult for Al-Ahli's attackers to find space and penetrate their defensive lines. Yaisele pointed out that facing teams that play with a "low-pressing" style requires patience and highly precise individual and collective solutions, something his team struggled with at times during the match.
A winning culture is sometimes more important than performance
Speaking about the importance of the result, Ysele emphasized a crucial football principle: some matches in a long league campaign require a "commercial victory," or winning at any cost, even if the performance isn't convincing or entertaining for the fans. He stressed that securing the three points is the ultimate goal for remaining competitive, especially given the fierce battle at the top of the table.
Al Ahly's position in the Roshan League standings
This victory strengthens Al-Ahli's position in the Saudi Professional League standings, raising their points tally to 34 and securing third place. This position is crucial for qualifying for continental competitions (the AFC Champions League) and underscores the team's determination to remain among the elite clubs and compete seriously this season.
The context of competition and future challenges
This match gains its importance from coming at a crucial stage of the season, where dropping points against lower-ranked teams is unacceptable if Al-Ahli wants to catch up with the top two or maintain its place in the top four. Yassleh's statement reflects his full awareness of the immense pressure from fans demanding both a strong performance and a positive result. However, realism in football sometimes dictates prioritizing the result to ensure the team's technical and administrative stability.
