Portuguese coach José Gomes, manager of Al-Fateh's first football team, expressed his opinion on his team's performance following their draw against Damac. The match was held at Al-Fateh's stadium in Al-Ahsa, as part of the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League, and was a highly competitive encounter.

Gomez's comments on the course of the match

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gomez offered a technical analysis of the game, noting that his team was the more dangerous side for much of the match. "We created many clear-cut scoring opportunities, and we had the ability to win the game and increase our goal tally, but we lacked the finishing touch," Gomez said. He further explained the reasons for the dip in performance at certain points: "We gave Damac a lot of time and space to move freely in our own half during the first half, which made things relatively difficult for us.".

Gomez's philosophy regarding missed penalties

Regarding the most notable moment of the match, the missed penalty (taken by Mourad Batna), Gomes strongly defended his players, refusing to place any blame on them. He commented, "Even the best players in the world miss penalties; that's football. In my team, I have several highly skilled and experienced free-kick and penalty takers, such as Mourad Batna, Sofiane Bendebka, and Vargas." The Portuguese coach added, emphasizing the players' intentions: "The player who misses a penalty primarily wanted to score and help the team, but he made a mistake in the execution. This is part of the game, and we must accept it and support the player to overcome it.".

Supporting young talent and future goals

Gomez also spoke about the team's young players, singling out Wesley and praising his potential. He said, "Wesley is a young player with great technical ability. He's capable of contributing and supporting the team in the future, but we need to be patient with him until he gains the necessary experience." Regarding the equalizing goal his team conceded, Gomez pointed out that it came from a set piece, saying, "Damac's only goal came from a corner kick, and we need to work on improving our positioning on set pieces.".

The context of the competition in the Saudi Roshan League

This match comes at a time of fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League (SPL) at all levels, with mid-table teams like Al-Fateh and Damac striving to improve their positions to secure safety and avoid the complexities of relegation. Al-Fateh, known as "The Model," is considered one of the clubs that displays high-level technical skill, but results don't always reflect the quality of their performances on the pitch, a point Gomez clearly alluded to when he spoke of "a lack of luck.".

This draw reflects the close level of technical skill among the league clubs this season, as matches are now decided only by very small details, whether through exploiting set pieces as Damac did, or through wasting opportunities as happened with Al-Fateh, which increases the excitement and strength of the competition at the local and regional levels.

Portuguese coach Jose Gomes, manager of Al-Fateh's first football team, expressed his opinion on the positive draw that resulted from his team's match against Damac, in the twenty-fourth round of the Saudi Professional League, which was held at Al-Fateh's stadium in Al-Ahsa.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gomez gave a technical analysis of the game, noting that his team was the better side for many periods of the match, saying: "We created many clear scoring opportunities, and we had the full ability to decide the match in our favor, but luck was not on our side in the final touch. On the other hand, we gave Damac space and time to play in our areas during the first half, which they exploited well.".

The Portuguese coach addressed the turning point of the match, the missed penalty, strongly defending his player (referring to Mourad Batna, the team's primary penalty taker), emphasizing that missing penalties is an inherent part of football. Gomes explained his philosophy on the matter, saying, "Even the best players in the world miss penalties; it's normal in the world of football. In my team, I have several penalty specialists like Mourad, Sofiane, and Fergas. The player who steps up to take the penalty is the one most eager to score and help the team, but he missed this time, and that doesn't diminish his overall value.".

Regarding the young players, Gomez praised Wesley, emphasizing that he is a promising talent with great potential who can contribute significantly to the team in the future. He stressed the need for patience to allow Wesley to develop and mature as a player. The coach also pointed out that Damac's only goal came from a corner kick, reflecting the scarcity of open scoring opportunities for the opponent compared to Al-Fateh's dominance.

This match comes in the context of the fierce competition in the Saudi League, where Al-Fateh, the former league champion, seeks to improve its position in the standings and ensure its presence in the safe zones or to compete for the qualifying positions for external championships, while Damac has proven during the last seasons that it is a difficult number and a stubborn competitor to the major Saudi clubs, which makes the draw a result that reflects the strength of the competition and the closeness of technical levels in the Saudi League, which has become the focus of the world’s attention.

Brazilian Fabio Carille, head coach of Damac FC, shared his technical and analytical perspective on the match between his team and Al-Fateh, which ended in a draw in the 24th round of the Saudi Professional League. This came during the post-match press conference held in Al-Ahsa, where he highlighted the tactical details his team faced.

a tactical analysis of the Al-Fateh match
, Carille explained that Damac's coaching staff were fully aware of Al-Fateh's strengths, particularly their heavy reliance on the right flank, where Moroccan star Mourad Batna operates. Carille stated, "We anticipated Al-Fateh's style of play and their focus on attacking down the right flank through Batna, and we addressed this accordingly. We successfully applied high pressure and scored the opening goal, but the opponent managed to equalize with a penalty."

Regarding the importance of the point and the battle for positions
, and the result of the draw, the Brazilian coach expressed his realistic satisfaction with securing a point from a difficult away game against a tough opponent like Al-Fateh. Carille pointed to the numerical calculations in the standings, emphasizing that a point away from home is a valuable gain, especially given the stumbles of their direct rivals. He said, "Yes, we are satisfied with the draw and the point, especially since it came away from home, and what makes it even more important is that our direct rival, Al-Riyadh, lost today." This statement reflects the coach's awareness of the sensitivity of this stage of the league, where the results of rivals play a significant role in determining the positions in the safer areas of the standings.

Carille's Return and the Challenges of Defense:
In a related context, Carille addressed the technical challenges he faces, emphasizing the need for intensive work to improve the team's defensive system. He explained that the short timeframe did not allow him to fully implement all his ideas, saying, "We need to work hard and improve the defense; the short time hasn't helped us." These statements bring to mind Carille's excellent reputation in Saudi football, where he previously coached Al-Ittihad and successfully built a solid defensive system.

Carille concluded his remarks with a human touch expressing his psychological comfort in the Kingdom, saying: "I am happy with my family to return to Saudi Arabia again," which confirms the stability that the coach is experiencing and his desire to make a strong impression with Damac Club in the remaining rounds of the league.