Saad Al-Shehri, the technical director of the first football team of Al-Ettifaq Club, expressed his realistic satisfaction after his team’s match against its counterpart Neom ended in a goalless draw, in the match that brought them together as part of the seventeenth round of the Saudi Professional League competition, which was held at the “Ego” stadium.
In the post-match press conference, Al-Shehri provided a technical analysis of the game, emphasizing that securing a draw against a strong and competitive opponent like Neom was an acceptable outcome given the circumstances. He stated, "Today's match against Neom was a good, tactical affair between the two teams, and a draw is a satisfactory result. We faced a formidable team with high capabilities, and the golden rule in such matches is that if you can't win, the most important thing is not to lose all three points.".
Defensive solidity and a continuation of the positive results series
Al-Shehri highlighted the remarkable improvement in Al-Ettifaq's defensive system, considering keeping a clean sheet for the second consecutive match the team's most significant achievement at this stage. He added, "One of the most important positives we've gained is not conceding a goal in the last two matches. We previously secured a valuable victory against Al-Ittihad with a clean sheet, and today we kept a clean sheet against Neom. This reflects the players' tactical discipline.".
The context of the competition and the development of the Roshan League
Saad Al-Shehri's statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is experiencing unprecedented competitiveness, with the technical gap between clubs narrowing thanks to international recruitment and significant support for the sports sector. Neom FC is one of the rising clubs that has established itself as a formidable opponent, making a draw against them a significant achievement for coaches.
Al-Ettifaq, nicknamed "The Knights of Ad-Dahna," are trying to regain their footing and compete for a higher position in the league standings, relying on Saad Al-Shehri's experience in handling big matches. Al-Shehri's current strategy, which focuses on securing the defense first, is considered a crucial step in building player confidence and securing points, especially after the morale-boosting victory over Al-Ittihad in the previous round.
It is worth noting that this goalless draw adds a point to both teams’ tally in the league standings, and confirms that the upcoming rounds will witness a fierce struggle to collect points, as Al-Ettifaq seeks to establish its foothold in the safe zones and get closer to the golden square.
