The national technical director of Al-Ettifaq team, Saad Al-Shehri, confirmed his team’s complete readiness to face Al-Khaleej in the anticipated match, which has the character of a mini “Eastern derby”, while praising the technical capabilities of the opponent under the leadership of the Greek coach Giorgos Donis.
Al-Shahri's statements regarding the readiness of the captains
During the press conference held on Sunday to discuss the details of the match, Al-Shehri explained that respecting the opponent is the first step towards victory, saying: "Al-Khaleej team includes distinguished elements and high-level players, and we realize the difficulty of the match, but on the other hand, we are fully prepared and we have worked during the last training sessions to address some of the negatives that appeared in our previous match.".
The Al-Ettifaq coach addressed the decline in the team's performance in the final minutes of the previous match against Al-Najma, explaining that the problem was not physical as much as it was mental. He added: "What happened in the final minutes against Al-Najma was purely mental, and we are working hard to address this aspect to ensure focus throughout the ninety minutes, but the most important thing is that we achieved victory and qualified.".
Match pressure and timing
In response to questions regarding the congested fixture schedule and its impact on player fitness, Al-Shehri refused to use it as an excuse, emphasizing the professionalism of the system. He stated, "A congested fixture schedule is normal in modern football. Every team has three days to recover after each match, and we are prepared for this schedule." Regarding the timing of matches, he confidently added, "I won't discuss the timing; we are ready to play at any time and under any circumstances.".
The importance of the Eastern Derby and the context of the competition
This match holds special significance beyond just the three points at stake, as encounters between Al-Ettifaq and Al-Khaleej are always fiercely contested and exciting in the Eastern Province. Al-Ettifaq aims to recapture its former glory and compete for top positions befitting the history of the "Knights of Ad-Dahna," especially given the intense competition in the Saudi Professional League this season, which has garnered global attention thanks to the influx of international stars.
This match is part of the fifteenth round of fixtures, a crucial stage where each team seeks to strengthen its position in the standings before entering the second half of the season. A win for Al-Ettifaq would bring them closer to the top four or the more comfortable mid-table positions, while Al-Khaleej aims to break their points drought and climb into the top half of the table.
The two teams' positions in the standings
Al-Ettifaq enters the match in seventh place in the Roshan League standings with 22 points, accumulated from a series of inconsistent results. They hope to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans to secure a victory. Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej sits in ninth place with 18 points, leaving a mere four points separating the two teams. This close proximity intensifies the competition, as a win for Al-Khaleej would reduce the gap to just one point, igniting a fierce battle in the mid-table.
The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 pm tomorrow, Monday, with fans looking forward to a rich football feast that reflects the development of Saudi football.
