The Portuguese coach of Al-Fateh, Mr. Gomes, expressed his complete satisfaction with the technical and physical level shown by his team’s players during the strong match that brought them together with their counterpart Al-Qadisiyah, on Saturday evening, as part of the competitions of the twenty-first (21) round of the Saudi Professional League, which ended in a positive draw of one goal each.

Gomez's comments on tactical performance

In the press conference held after the final whistle, Gomez analyzed the course of the match, saying: "We performed very well against a team with great potential and high-level players, which made the match a real challenge for us. The players were at the peak of tactical discipline, and very organized both defensively in closing down spaces and offensively in exploiting available opportunities.".

Challenges of shortages and dependence on youth

The Portuguese coach addressed the challenges facing the team regarding the bench and absences, explaining: "In truth, we don't have many options in matches, so I work with the squad I have available. Despite this, I have complete faith in the current group, and our full focus is now on preparing for the upcoming period." Gomes also highlighted the club's strategy of relying on emerging talent, saying: "The team has a number of outstanding young players who represent the future of the club, and we select the appropriate lineup and players for each match based on its specific circumstances.".

Competition context of the Roshan League

This match comes at a time when the Saudi Roshan League is witnessing fierce competition in all positions of the standings, as mid-table teams like Al-Fateh seek to secure their positions and move away from danger zones, in light of the great development that Saudi football is witnessing and the attraction of international stars to clubs, which has increased the difficulty of the matches and raised the technical value of the league, and made every point a valuable gain.

Gomez and personal appreciation

Gomez concluded his remarks by responding to the praise he receives, saying: "Al-Fateh is a special group and always fights to bridge the technical gap with the big clubs and achieve the best possible results. I thank everyone for praising me and describing me as one of the top 5 coaches in the Saudi League currently, and this makes me happy, as hard work is always what distinguishes one person from another and makes the difference.".

The two teams' positions in the standings

It is worth noting that this draw raised Al-Fateh's points to (24), thus settling in tenth place in the Roshan League standings, a position the team seeks to improve in the coming rounds to ensure its presence in the safe zone, while Al-Qadisiyah continues its efforts to improve its position in the standings.

Al-Khaleej's Greek coach, Giorgos Donis, expressed his deep dissatisfaction after his team's 1-1 draw against Al-Taawoun on Saturday evening in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. His comments at the post-match press conference highlighted two main issues plaguing the team: refereeing decisions and the immense pressure of the fixture congestion.

Donis began his remarks with a scathing critique of the refereeing, specifically regarding the calculation of stoppage time. He asked rhetorically, "My question to the referees is, why isn't stoppage time calculated fairly? We've been suffering from this in more than one match." This statement reflects a growing sense within Al-Khaleej's coaching staff that there is inconsistency in refereeing decisions, which could directly impact the team's results at this crucial stage of the league.

Regarding the team's performance, the Greek coach asserted that his team was the better side, especially in the first half, explaining: "We played a beautiful first half and missed many opportunities. We had chances that could have decided the match early on." This analysis reflects the disappointment of losing two valuable points that were within reach, had it not been for a lack of the final touch and focus in front of goal – a crucial factor in league matches that demand capitalizing on even half-chances.

In a related context, Donis opened a thorny issue concerning match scheduling and physical fatigue, stating: "It was a difficult period due to the large number of matches. No team in the world's leagues plays nine matches a month. This is exhausting and dangerous for the players, leads to injuries, and negatively impacts performance levels." This statement highlights the immense physical challenges facing Saudi clubs this season, as the relentless schedule of matches without sufficient recovery periods depletes players' energy and increases the rate of muscle injuries, negatively affecting the quality of their technical performance on the pitch.

These statements come at a time when the Saudi Professional League is witnessing fierce competition on all fronts, whether in the battle for the top spot or in the mid-table. Points lost in such matches have a significant impact on the final standings, which explains the intensity of coach Donis's statements and his concern about the effect of external factors and fatigue on Al-Khaleej's performance for the remainder of the season.

Al-Taawoun's Brazilian coach, Pericles Chamusca, expressed his disappointment, tempered by realism, following his team's 1-1 draw against Al-Khaleej on Saturday evening in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. His comments highlighted several challenges facing the team, nicknamed "The Sugar of Qassim," amidst fierce competition this season.

Match analysis and opponent difficulty

Shamouska began his press conference by emphasizing that the match was far from easy, praising Al-Khaleej's defensive and tactical organization. The Brazilian coach said, "Al-Khaleej is a very well-organized team, yet we played a good match and tried to control the game, especially considering the changes the team underwent with the arrival of several new players and the departure of others during the winter transfer window, which requires time to build cohesion.".

Match congestion crisis and financial disparities

The Al-Taawoun coach addressed a crucial point regarding competitive fairness amidst the congested schedule, noting that clubs with massive budgets are the biggest beneficiaries of this situation. He explained, "With matches coming thick and fast, the focus becomes entirely on physical recovery. This is where the differences become apparent; clubs with larger budgets possess strong benches and quality players, allowing them to rotate without compromising performance, unlike other teams that suffer from fatigue." This statement comes in the context of the significant transformations taking place in Saudi football, where clubs are vying for top-four finishes and Asian competitions.

scathing criticism of the refereeing

In an angry tone, Shamouska sharply criticized the refereeing performance, arguing that the erroneous decisions were a direct cause of the team's decline in the league standings. He concluded his remarks by saying, "We are suffering from a series of refereeing errors; we have had three perfectly valid goals disallowed by referees in previous matches, which has directly affected our points tally and our ranking. This feeling of injustice creates a state of frustration and psychological pressure among the players on the field.".

The team's position in the league

It is worth noting that the draw raised Al-Taawon's tally to 39 points, occupying fifth place in the Roshan League standings, a position that does not satisfy the ambitions of the "Wolves" who are striving to break into the top four and secure a place in continental championships next season, while the Saudi League continues to attract global attention thanks to the intensity of the competition and the presence of an elite group of world stars.