Portuguese coach Paulo Sergio, manager of Al-Akhdoud FC, expressed his deep disappointment and sadness following his team's defeat against Al-Ettifaq in the 13th round of the Saudi Professional League. The Portuguese coach's statements revealed the depth of the crisis the team is facing, which goes beyond simply losing three points in a competitive match.
In the post-match press conference, Paulo Sergio stated bluntly: "We are not going through a good period at all right now. The team is suffering greatly due to the numerous injuries affecting key players, in addition to the recurring individual and collective errors in matches." The coach indicated that the two goals his team conceded against Al-Ettifaq were a direct result of these errors, which the coaching staff is trying to address, but to no avail under the current circumstances.
The deals crisis and management silence
In a striking statement reflecting a communication gap between the coaching staff and the club's management, Sergio confirmed that he had not received any official response from Al-Akhdoud's management regarding winter transfers or squad reinforcements. He said, "We haven't received any response from the management regarding new signings recently." He added, in a tone of bitter realism, that the current objective is now limited to finishing the season with the available players, indicating a diminishing hope of improving the squad's quality in the near future.
Roshan League Challenges and the Struggle for Survival
These statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League (the Roshan League) is witnessing tremendous development and unprecedented fierce competition, especially after major clubs attracted international stars, widening the technical gap between the top teams and the rest. For Al-Akhdoud, the newly promoted club, every point is crucial in the fight to avoid relegation.
The Portuguese coach faces a significant challenge due to the limited depth of his bench, a point he acknowledged by saying, "We've given several players opportunities in recent matches, and the team is currently experiencing a crisis across all positions." This shortage of players, both in terms of numbers and quality, makes it difficult for the team to keep up with the high tempo of matches, especially when injuries and suspensions pile up, putting the team's future in the league at risk.
The coach's demands for new signings are not merely technical desires, but rather a pressing necessity to ensure the team's continued success in what is currently one of the strongest leagues in the region. Fans are awaiting administrative action to rectify the situation before it's too late, as continuing at this pace could worsen the team's position in the standings and increase the psychological pressure on the players and coaching staff.
