On a thrilling night of football at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah (The Shining Jewel), Al-Ahli secured a victory in the top match of the 13th round of the Saudi Professional League, defeating their guests Al-Nassr 3-2. This encounter was more than just about three points in the league race; it was a true test of the abilities of both coaches, Matias Jääsle and Jorge Jesus, in managing the pressure of big matches and key player absences.
Yassleh: The fighting spirit compensated for the absences
Following the match, Al-Ahli's German coach, Matthias Jäissle, appeared at the press conference beaming with victory and confidence, emphasizing his deep respect for his counterpart at Al-Nassr and all the coaches in the league. Jäissle explained that preparations for this crucial match were primarily based on a thorough analysis of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. He said, "The match was exciting and everyone enjoyed it, and most importantly, we managed to secure the win despite the significant absences the team suffered.".
Yasle added, emphasizing the psychological aspect: “Determination was the key to victory. A person in his life must be confident and believe in himself, and the absences created an additional incentive for the players to prove themselves. With this belief and this spirit, we were able to win,” expressing his deep gratitude to the players for their tactical commitment and for overcoming the difficult circumstances.
The context of the competition and the development of the Roshan League
This match comes at a time when the Saudi Professional League is undergoing historic transformations and unprecedented competitiveness, with Saudi clubs becoming the focus of global attention thanks to attracting some of the world's biggest football stars. The "Clásico" matches between Jeddah and Riyadh clubs have gained added significance, not only domestically but also regionally and internationally, reflecting the development of the competition's technical and tactical level. The title race this season appears fiercer than ever, with the teams closely matched and more than three clubs vying for the championship, making every dropped point extremely valuable.
Jesus admits mistakes and awaits winter
For his part, Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus did not hide his dissatisfaction with his team's defensive performance, despite praising the strength of the opponent and expressing his respect for Al-Ahli. Jesus asserted that his team did not deserve to lose, given the course of the match, noting that the last twenty minutes saw parity and a relative dominance by his team. He said, "We possess a high scoring ability, but we concede goals too easily, and this is something we must work on.".
In a notable statement outlining the next phase, Jesus explained that the winter transfer window would be crucial for restructuring the team, saying, "The winter transfer window will see some necessary changes. We drew one match and lost another recently, and we're looking to make the most of the winter period to address our weaknesses." Regarding tactical aspects, Jesus justified the substitution of Saad Al-Nasser at halftime as a purely tactical decision aimed at adjusting the full-back positions to try and close down the flanks, which Al-Ahli had exploited effectively.
