Greek coach Giorgos Donis, manager of Al Khaleej Club, attributed his team's heavy 4-1 defeat against host Al Ahli Club to the difficult circumstances surrounding the team before and during the match, stressing that absences and injuries were the decisive factor in turning the course of the match in favor of the home team.
The impact of injuries on tactical balance
In the post-match press conference, Donis confirmed that his team suffered from a severe lack of tactical options, which disrupted the balance needed to compete against a team of Al-Ahli's stature and strength. The coach, an expert on Saudi football, explained that his game plan largely succeeded during the first half, as Al-Khaleej's players displayed high discipline and managed to control the key aspects of the game, even dominating for much of the half. This prompted him to urge them at halftime to capitalize on their advantage and extend their lead.
Turning point and physical breakdown
Donis pointed out that the real turning point was the resurgence of injuries, with one player suffering a sudden injury during warm-ups, which disrupted plans before kickoff. Furthermore, the limited depth of the substitutes' bench prevented him from making tactical changes capable of keeping pace with the increased tempo of the second half. This shortage of players, both in terms of numbers and quality, made it difficult to withstand Al-Ahli's relentless attacking pressure, which capitalized on the declining physical condition of Al-Khaleej's players.
Technical differences in the Roshan League
In a related context, Donis addressed the challenges facing mid-table clubs in the Saudi Professional League, noting that teams experiencing similar absences find it extremely difficult to compete with the top four clubs, whose benches rival those of their starting players. He emphasized that Al-Ahli's comeback and four-goal victory were not entirely surprising, given the technical superiority and immense talent at their disposal, which allows them to make a difference in crucial moments of matches. This is precisely what happened in the second half, which saw the home side dominate.
