Despite continuing their winning streak in the Saudi Professional League, Al-Hilal has found itself the subject of technical debate, not because of the results, but because of the team's style of play. This time, the criticism came from one of its most prominent legends, Sami Al-Jaber, who criticized the tactics employed by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus following their 2-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the league.
In the match between the two teams, Al-Hilal secured an early victory, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scoring the first goal and Salem Al-Dawsari adding the second, thus strengthening their lead at the top of the table with a comfortable margin over their closest rivals. However, the result was not enough to fully satisfy Al-Jaber.
General context and Al-Hilal's dominant trajectory
This criticism comes amidst an exceptional season for Al-Hilal, who not only topped the league but also achieved a historic winning streak across all competitions, establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams on the global stage. This dominance followed massive investments during the summer transfer window, which saw the acquisition of world-class stars such as Neymar (despite his injury), Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and Malcom. This raised expectations among fans and pundits alike, not only for victories but also for entertaining and convincing football that reflects the caliber of the players in the squad.
Dimensions of Al-Jaber's critique and its expected impact
During his analysis of the match, Sami Al-Jaber praised some positive aspects, such as the noticeable improvement in set-piece execution, acknowledging that coach Jesus had done a great job in this area. However, he emphasized that the team lacked "entertainment" and variety in attacking options. He explained that their playing style had become repetitive and could be easily predicted by stronger opponents in the future, especially in the later stages of the AFC Champions League.
Al-Jaber warned that this lack of attacking variety could put Al-Hilal in a difficult position against teams that excel at organized defense and quick transitions. He pointed out that Al-Ettifaq, despite the loss, managed to reach Al-Hilal's goal on several occasions and had clear scoring opportunities. The significance of Al-Jaber's statements lies in the fact that he is not just an analyst, but a club legend, which gives his words considerable weight with fans and the media. This could put positive pressure on the coaching staff to reassess some tactical aspects. At a club the size of Al-Hilal, ambition doesn't stop at achieving victory, but extends to how it is achieved, a point encapsulated in the club legend's critique.
