Irish coach Brendan Rodgers, the technical director of Al-Qadisiyah Club, stressed the utmost importance of the upcoming match against traditional rival Al-Ettifaq, in the match known in the media and among fans as the “Eastern Derby” , emphasizing that such matches have a special character that goes beyond just obtaining the three points.
In the pre-match press conference, Rodgers stated: “I am fully aware of the difficulty and importance of derby matches in the world of football. It is not just an ordinary match in the league schedule, but a special event for the fans and for the city. We will approach the Al-Ettifaq match with the same seriousness and focus that we approach any big match, whether it is against the league leaders or a team fighting to avoid relegation.”.
Historical context and renewed conflict
The Eastern Province derby is considered one of the most prominent classic encounters in the history of Saudi football. This match carries a long legacy of intense rivalry and passionate fans, representing a battle for supremacy in the Eastern Province. This season's encounter takes on an added dimension of excitement with the presence of two world-class coaches: Brendan Rodgers leads Al-Qadisiyah, while Steven Gerrard manages Al-Ettifaq, reigniting their famous rivalry from the Scottish derby between Rodgers at Celtic and Gerrard at Rangers.
The importance and impact of the match
The importance of this match transcends the historical rivalry, extending to its direct impact on both teams' standings in the Saudi Professional League. Al-Qadisiyah enters the match in fourth place with 50 points, aiming to solidify its position and compete strongly for a spot in Asian competitions. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq sits in seventh place with 38 points, hoping for a positive result to climb the table and finish the season in a position befitting its significant investments and ambitions.
Rodgers added, speaking about the emotional aspect: “The derby is also special for the fans, and we represent them on the pitch. Since I arrived here, the fans’ support has been incredible, and we always strive to give them the joy of victory they deserve.” He concluded by emphasizing the need to balance passion with technical performance: “Our preparation focuses on tactical and technical aspects, but in a derby, emotions play a pivotal role. We have to separate emotion from performance to achieve the desired result and successfully execute our plans.”.
Al-Qadisiyah is scheduled to host Al-Ettifaq on Monday evening, in a postponed match from the tenth round of the Roshan League, which Saudi football fans are eagerly awaiting due to the excitement and competitiveness it holds on the field and off the field.
