Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, manager of Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai, made fiery statements full of appreciation and respect for his upcoming opponent, Al-Ahli Saudi, just hours before the anticipated match between the two teams in the next round of the AFC Champions League, which is scheduled to be held at Al-Inma Stadium.

In the pre-match press conference, Souza emphasized the difficulty of the task against such a seasoned opponent, praising Al-Ahli's high level of skill. Speaking to the media, Souza said, "First, I would like to congratulate Al-Ahli on their outstanding performances last season. We are very happy to be facing a great team like Al-Ahli, a champion with a rich history in Asia.".

The Portuguese coach used an eloquent analogy to describe the technical and tactical state of his opponent, saying: “Tomorrow we face a very disciplined team. They operate like a Swiss watch, both in terms of collective performance and results,” in a clear reference to the high level of organization and harmony between the lines of the Saudi team under the leadership of its technical staff.

A huge morale boost for Al-Ahly before the Asian competition

Al-Ahli Saudi enters this match in high spirits, seeking victory against Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai to continue its winning streak and strengthen its position in both domestic and continental competitions. This match comes at a time when the team is enjoying a period of attacking brilliance, having secured a resounding victory in its last Saudi Professional League match against its neighbor, Al-Shabab.

The recent Riyadh derby ended with a resounding 5-2 victory for Al-Ahli, a result that sent a strong warning to all rivals and confirmed the club's readiness to compete on all fronts this season. Al-Ahli aims to capitalize on this high morale to secure points in their upcoming Asian Champions League match and take a significant step towards the knockout stages.

The importance of Asian elite matches

This match holds special significance as it falls within the new format of the AFC Champions League, which brings together the elite clubs of Asia. Saudi-Emirati encounters are always considered a "Gulf derby," characterized by intense rivalry and high fan turnout. Fans view this match as a true test of both coaches' abilities. Shabab Al Ahli will be looking to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans (or other surrounding circumstances) to achieve a positive result against one of the strongest contenders for the title, while Al Ahli Saudi aims to reaffirm its dominance and the formidable strength it has demonstrated domestically and translate that to the continental stage.

Tottenham Hotspur announced in an official statement on Saturday the appointment of Croatian Igor Tudor as the team's interim manager until the end of the current season, in a move aimed at addressing the team's precarious position in the English Premier League standings.

This decisive decision by the Spurs management comes after the dismissal of Danish coach Thomas Frank last Wednesday, following a series of negative results that destabilized the team and led to its alarming decline to sixteenth place, where the gap between it and the relegation zone is now only five points, a situation that does not befit the history of the prestigious London club.

Rescue mission and extensive European expertise

Igor Tudor, 47, boasts extensive coaching experience in European football, having previously managed prominent clubs such as Juventus, Lazio, Udinese, and Verona in Italy, as well as Olympique Marseille in France, Galatasaray in Turkey, and Hajduk Split in Croatia. His most recent stint was with Juventus, where he was dismissed last October after a difficult period, despite having previously guided the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2024-2025 season and securing Champions League qualification following a series of impressive early results.

In his first statement after being appointed, Tudor expressed his enthusiasm for the task, saying: "It is an honor for me to join this club at such a crucial moment. I am aware of the responsibility I have taken on, and my objective is clear: to achieve greater consistency in our performances and to compete with conviction in every match." The Croatian coach affirmed his confidence in the squad, adding: "This group possesses great quality, and my job is to organize them, instill enthusiasm in them, and quickly improve our results.".

The interim coach's strategy and waiting for Pochettino

Tottenham's management strategy appears to be based on temporary solutions while they work towards a long-term project, a move similar to Manchester United's recent appointment of Michael Carrick. Reports indicate that the club's primary objective for next season is to bring back Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently committed to the United States national team at the upcoming World Cup, making Tudor the ideal solution for this transitional phase.

The club had considered other options such as Edin Terzic and Marco Rose before settling on Tudor, who faces a fiery encounter in his first real test, as Tottenham hosts its traditional rival Arsenal (the leader) in the "North London Derby" on February 22, a match that could be key to restoring confidence or deepening the wounds.

The technical staff of Al-Nasr's first football team received a strong blow before the resumption of the Roshan Professional League competitions, as it was confirmed that the veteran Spanish defender, Iñigo Martínez, from the team's next match, in which they will face Al-Hazm in the twenty-third round of the competition.

This significant absence stems from disciplinary regulations regarding accumulated yellow cards. Iñigo Martínez received a yellow card during Al-Nassr's recent heated match against Al-Fateh. This card triggered an automatic one-match suspension, presenting the coach with a tactical challenge in finding a suitable replacement capable of filling the defensive gap at this crucial juncture in the league.

The importance of the match in the race for the top spot

Al-Nassr's upcoming match against Al-Hazm takes on added importance beyond just securing three points. The "Global" team aims to continue its winning streak and close the gap on its traditional rival, Al-Hilal, which currently sits atop the Saudi Professional League standings. Given the fierce competition this season, any slip-up or dropped points would significantly diminish their title aspirations, making the absence of a key defensive player like Martinez a crucial factor requiring heightened caution and focus from the rest of the squad.

A morale boost despite the absences

Despite the anticipated defensive absences, Al-Nassr enters the match with relatively high morale, buoyed by their valuable 2-0 victory over Al-Fateh in the previous round. That match witnessed a significant event: the return of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo to the lineup and the attacking line, bolstering the team's attacking prowess and partially alleviating fan concerns about the defensive lapses.

Challenges of the Roshan League and Artistic Impact

The current season of the Saudi Professional League is considered one of the strongest in the history of Saudi football, given the influx of top international stars. In this context, the absence of foreign professional players from their respective teams' matches presents a significant challenge for the coaching staff. Al-Nassr relies heavily on the European experience of Iñigo Martínez in organizing the defense and building attacks from the back. Al-Nassr's substitutes will need to prove their worth against Al-Hazm to ensure a clean sheet and maintain their pursuit of the league title.