Captain Saad Al-Shehri, the national technical director of Al-Ettifaq Club, expressed his great satisfaction and happiness after his team achieved a valuable 2-0 victory over Al-Akhdoud. This came in the strong match that brought the two teams together at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium (Eijo Stadium), as part of the thirteenth round of the Saudi Professional League.
In the post-match press conference, Al-Shehri provided a technical analysis of the game, confirming that the match unfolded as the coaching staff had anticipated. He stated, "We achieved a crucial victory at a critical juncture. We attempted to take the initiative and push forward in the first half, but our effectiveness became more apparent in the second half, where the team performed as required tactically. We successfully scored two goals by perfectly capitalizing on crosses and quick counter-attacks.".
The Al-Ettifaq coach addressed the upcoming stage, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a consistent points tally. He described the current phase as a "point-harvest phase" where no points can be dropped. He added, "We now have a good rest period, which we will use for recovery and mental and physical preparation before facing Al-Najma. We must be cautious, as Al-Najma is a strong and respectable team whose level cannot be underestimated or taken lightly. We are approaching each upcoming match as a separate challenge and a championship in itself.".
Return of confidence and artistic stability
This victory further solidifies Saad Al-Shehri's position as head coach of Al-Ettifaq. Al-Shehri is known for his extensive experience in Saudi football, particularly his previous successes with the Saudi youth and Olympic teams. These positive results indicate the national coach's success in restructuring the team's tactics and adopting a pragmatic approach to achieve the desired results amidst the fierce competition in this season's league.
The importance of winning the Roshan League race
A victory against Al-Akhdoud is doubly important for Al-Nawakhda, as it improves the team's position in the Roshan League standings and distances them from the relegation zone, giving the players greater confidence to continue their journey. This season's Saudi Professional League matches are among the strongest in the region, given the clubs' attraction of international stars, making every point a valuable asset that demands extra effort.
Preparing for the cup match and potential surprises
Regarding the warning against Al-Najma, Al-Shehri is well aware of the nature of knockout matches and encounters with Yellow League clubs, which are often characterized by surprises and intense competition. Therefore, focusing on the psychological aspect and respecting the opponent is a cornerstone of Al-Shehri's coaching philosophy to ensure progression to the later stages and bring joy to the Dammam fans, who are eager for championships.
