Mancini: Changing the AFC Champions League's elite format made facing Al Hilal more difficult
A fiery clash between Al Sadd and Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League Elite
Asian and Arab football fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming clash between Qatar's Al Sadd and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilalin the Round of 16 of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League. In this context, Al Sadd's Italian coach, Roberto Mancini, emphasized the difficulty of this encounter, pointing to the significant challenges posed by the new format of the continental tournament.
The impact of changing the tournament system on the clubs' chances
This encounter comes amidst radical changes implemented by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to its club competitions, with the creation of the "AFC Champions League" as the continent's premier and most prestigious tournament. Among the most notable of these changes is the shift from the traditional two-legged format to single-leg knockout matches, such as the Round of 16. This strategic change intensifies the competition and reduces the margin for error, making every minute on the pitch crucial for the fate of the participating teams. Historically, Saudi-Qatari clashes are considered among the fiercest derbies in Asia. Al-Hilal holds the record for the most Asian titles, while Al-Sadd of Qatar is a historic champion, having previously tasted continental glory on two occasions, in 1989 and 2011.
Mancini's statements at the press conference
During the pre-match press conference, held at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Media Center in Jeddah, Mancini outlined his tactical vision for the upcoming match. The veteran Italian coach stated, "We are expecting a very tough and challenging game against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, who are undoubtedly one of the best teams in Asia." Mancini further emphasized his team's preparations, saying, "We have prepared thoroughly for this difficult and demanding match. We were out of the tournament when I took over, but now we are facing a strong opponent in the Round of 16.".
Mancini also spoke about facing Al-Hilal's coach, Inzaghi, reminiscing about the past: "Inzaghi was my player and he played very well. Now he's a coach and has achieved great success in coaching, and I like him a lot. He did a fantastic job in Italy, and now he's doing an outstanding job with Al-Hilal." Mancini concluded his remarks by highlighting the biggest challenge posed by the tournament format, emphasizing that "changing the tournament system is not easy at all, and playing a single-elimination match is certainly more difficult than playing two-legged ties.".
Al-Sadd's readiness and captain Hassan Al-Haydos's optimism
For his part, Al Sadd's captain, veteran star Hassan Al-Haydos, echoed his coach's sentiments, describing the match as difficult and complex for both teams. Al-Haydos stated, "It will be a tough match against a great team like Al Hilal, and I hope my team will be successful and perform in a manner befitting Al Sadd's name, so we can achieve victory and advance to the second round of the tournament.".
Al-Haydos concluded his remarks with a message of reassurance to Al-Sadd fans, emphasizing the high morale within the camp. He said, "The atmosphere within the team is very positive, and everyone is ready and optimistic. We will deliver a strong performance against Al-Hilal." This football summit is not merely about advancing to the quarterfinals; it is a testament to the strength and prowess of both teams on the Asian stage, promising fans a thrilling and competitive match.
