Northern Irish coach Brendan Rodgers, manager of Al-Qadsia FC, expressed his complete satisfaction and immense happiness with his team's resounding victory over their neighbor and traditional rival, Al-Ettifaq FC. This triumph came in the postponed match from the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League, held at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, and ended with a decisive 4-0 scoreline.
Rodgers' statements and his confidence in his players
In the post-match press conference, Rodgers praised his players' high-level performance, emphasizing that they had faced a well-organized and strong opponent. He said, "We played an excellent game in every aspect, especially considering the fixture congestion. We played two matches in just four days, which took its toll on us physically, but the players showed great professionalism." He added confidently, "I have very good players who can score goals, and that was evident today. The most important thing for me is that we finish the game with the same intensity and focus we started with, and we succeeded in doing that.".
Background and importance of the Eastern Derby
The matches between Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Ettifaq hold special significance as the "Eastern Province Derby," a clash between two historic clubs with large fan bases in the region. With the remarkable development of the Saudi Professional League and its attraction of international stars and coaches, these encounters have garnered even greater media and public attention. The presence of coaches of the caliber of Brendan Rodgers, boasting an impressive track record with clubs like Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester City, and Steven Gerrard at the helm of Al-Ettifaq, adds a global dimension and a high level of tactical competition to this fixture.
The impact of the win on the teams' journey
This resounding victory boosts Al-Qadisiyah's ambitions to compete for a top spot in the league standings, especially after Rodgers took over from former coach Michel Gonzalez. This win sends a strong message to the other contenders that the team is a serious contender for titles this season. On the other hand, this heavy defeat puts Al-Ettifaq in a difficult position, as coach Steven Gerrard will have to reassess his strategy and quickly rectify the mistakes to get back on track and maintain the team's stability in one of the most competitive Saudi league seasons in its history.
