Saad Al-Shehri, the head coach of Al-Ettifaq's first football team, confirmed his team's complete readiness for their upcoming match against Al-Najma in the 14th round of the Roshan Professional League, which will be held at Al-Najma's stadium in Unaizah. These statements come as Al-Ettifaq, nicknamed "The Knights of Ad-Dahna," seeks to strengthen its position in the league standings and continue its positive run of results.
Intensive preparations and caution against counterattacks
In the pre-match press conference, Al-Shehri explained that preparations had gone perfectly, saying, "Our preparations for the Al-Najma match are good, and our morale is high. Al-Najma is a very strong team in transitions, and we must be tactically prepared to deal with them accordingly." This statement indicates the coaching staff's awareness of the opponent's strength, especially in the tactical aspects related to the speed of ball movement from defense to attack, a tactic many clubs rely on to trouble the big teams.
Al-Shehri added, warning against complacency: "It must be emphasized that we are playing against a team currently in last place, but one that is still a good team. We need to deliver the same performance we showed in our previous matches against Al-Najma. We still have a lot to offer, and we are progressing steadily in the league." This statement reflects the professional philosophy that Al-Shehri is trying to instill, where modern football recognizes less about on-field superiority and more about the effort exerted on the pitch for the full ninety minutes.
Absolute support for Koka and technical stability
In a related context, Al-Shehri addressed the situation regarding Egyptian striker Ahmed Hassan Kouka, putting an end to rumors that could affect the team's stability. He said, "We have confidence in Ahmed Hassan Kouka; he is an important player for us, and as long as he is with us, no other stories about him should circulate." He further explained the importance of consistency: "The most important thing over the past period is that our performance has been steadily improving. We have succeeded in achieving some positive results, and consistency is of paramount importance to us.".
This moral support comes at an important time, as the psychological stability of professional players is a crucial factor in maintaining performance levels, especially in a highly competitive league with extensive media coverage like the Saudi League, which has become the focus of the world’s attention.
Tactical flexibility and the realities of the transfer market
Al-Shehri concluded by revealing his team's strength, stating, "Our team's advantage is flexibility and the ability to play in more than one way. What matters to us is not the style of play, but the impact of the players. The team's mentality is consistent, and we strive to maintain it." This flexibility is a double-edged sword in modern football, as it allows the coach to change his strategy based on the flow of the game and the opponent's weaknesses.
Regarding the winter transfer window, Al-Shehri was realistic in his assessment, stating, "Currently, it's impossible to predict what will happen in the transfer market, and the club's financial circumstances might prevent it from participating." This statement highlights the economic challenges facing clubs and the need to adapt to available resources to achieve the best possible results without jeopardizing the financial stability of the sporting institution.
