Conceição speaks about Kante's departure and Al-Ittihad's readiness for the Asian Champions League
In a press conference filled with anticipation and high concentration, Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, manager of Al-Ittihad Club, put the dots on the readiness of "Al-Ameed" for the anticipated Asian confrontation tomorrow, addressing clearly and transparently the issue of the departure of French star N'Golo Kante and its impact on the team's system.
The challenge of compensating for stars and artistic realism
Conceição did not shy away from questions regarding the recent transfer of French international N'Golo Kanté to Turkish side Fenerbahçe. In his response, the Portuguese coach acknowledged Kanté's immense talent as one of the most prominent names in world football, noting that losing a player of his caliber and extensive experience in European and international competitions undoubtedly presents a significant challenge for any team in the world, not just Al-Ittihad.
However, Conceição demonstrated a high level of professionalism, emphasizing that football is a team sport and that the coaching staff had developed the necessary plans to address this absence with the available resources. He stressed that the team possesses exceptional players capable of filling the gap and that work is proceeding diligently to find the right combination to ensure the team's continued strength in midfield, considering this challenge an opportunity for the remaining players to prove their worth.
Fighting on three fronts and the toll of exhaustion
Speaking about the pressure of the matches, the Al-Ittihad coach explained that the team is going through a critical phase of the season, as the "Tigers" are competing fiercely on three main fronts (the domestic league, the cup, and the AFC Champions League). This multitude of competitions imposes a demanding physical reality that requires careful management of physical exertion and intelligent player rotation to avoid exhaustion.
Conceição noted that the players' fitness levels are high and promising, but acknowledged that the congested schedule could be a contributing factor to injuries, which are an inherent part of the game. He emphasized that the medical and technical staff are working in perfect harmony to assess the players' condition until the very last moment before the match, ensuring that the fittest and most capable players are fielded.
The players' ambition and the support of the Al-Ittihad fans
For his part, player Mario Mitai reinforced his coach's statements, describing the AFC Champions League matches as "football battles" where there is no room for error. Mitai emphasized that the Asian championship requires a different mental and physical preparation than domestic matches, given the strength of the opponents and the diversity of their footballing styles.
Mitai concluded his speech with an enthusiastic message to the Al-Ittihad fans, stressing that the players feel responsible towards the large crowd that always supports them, and that the time has come to repay the favor by achieving victory and moving forward in the tournament, stressing the great cohesion within the locker room and the overwhelming desire to achieve titles and make the fans of gold happy.
