Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal club announced that their Moroccan international goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, missed Sunday's team training session ahead of their upcoming match against UAE's Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai in the AFC Champions League group stage. The club explained that Bounou's absence was a tactical decision by Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, who preferred to give him a rest in preparation for the upcoming fixtures.
General context and background: A blockbuster deal and an exceptional season
Yassine Bounou joined Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023 from Spanish club Sevilla, in a deal considered one of the most significant in the Saudi Professional League. This transfer came after Bounou's historic performance with the Moroccan national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he led the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals, becoming the first Arab and African team to achieve this feat, thus cementing his status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Since arriving in Riyadh, Bounou has been a true pillar of Al-Hilal's defense and has directly contributed to the team's historic winning streak this season, both domestically and continentally.
The importance of the decision and its expected impact
Coach Jorge Jesus' decision to rest Bono is part of his astute player rotation strategy, designed to maintain the team's physical and mental readiness, especially given Al-Hilal's participation in multiple competitions, including the Saudi Professional League, the King's Cup, and the AFC Champions League. This decision also reflects the coaching staff's strong confidence in backup goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Rubaie, who is expected to start against Shabab Al-Ahli. This match presents a significant opportunity for Al-Rubaie to prove his abilities and keep a clean sheet in a major continental tournament.
Domestically, Al Hilal is steadily progressing towards reclaiming the Roshan League title, having secured a crucial 3-0 victory in their last match against Al Akhdoud. On the Asian stage, Al Hilal's ambitions extend beyond the group stage, as the club aims to win the continental title for the fifth time in its history. Therefore, maintaining the fitness of key players, such as Yassine Bounou, is a top priority to compete strongly in the decisive knockout stages of the tournament
