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.

The club is experiencing internal turmoil and a severe technical and administrative crisis, casting a shadow over the stability of the first football team. This is due to the strained relationship between Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição and the club's decision-makers. This crisis is a direct result of the recent transfer market policies, which saw the departure of key players without adequate replacements that the coaching staff desired.

The earthquake of star departures and its impact on Al-Ittihad

Last week was anything but ordinary at Al-Ittihad Club; it was a turbulent week both technically and psychologically. The team suffered significant blows with the departure of its most prominent stars. Veteran French striker Karim Benzema moved to arch-rivals Al-Hilal, a move that sparked widespread controversy in the sports world. This was followed by the departure of French midfield dynamo N'Golo Kanté to Turkish side Fenerbahçe. This exodus of key players created a clear technical gap, which was evident in the team's preparations for the derby match and negatively impacted morale within the locker room.

The Clasico defeat reveals the hidden truth

Al-Ittihad's 2-0 loss to Al-Nassr in the Clasico served as an early warning sign, revealing the extent of the technical challenges the team faces in the post-Benzema and Kanté era. The match was more than just a loss of three points; it reflected a tactical imbalance and the absence of the individual brilliance that the departed stars used to provide, leaving coach Conceição in an unenviable position with the disgruntled fans.

Youssef En-Nesyri: A rocky start and worrying statistics

In an attempt to bolster their attacking options, the club signed Moroccan international striker Youssef En-Nesyri on a one-and-a-half-year contract. Despite high hopes, his debut in El Clásico was unconvincing, as he failed to make a scoring impact. Adding to the fans' concerns are the statistics, which indicate that En-Nesyri is experiencing a severe goal drought, having failed to score in his last 14 matches for both his former club and country. This only intensifies the pressure on him to break his scoring drought quickly.

The Secret of Conceição's Anger: The Enigma of Gustavo Sa

Private sources told Al-Midan that Sergio Conceição's discontent stems not only from the departure of certain players but also from the administration's failure to meet his demands for replacements. The Portuguese coach had hoped to sign his compatriot Gustavo Sá, whom he saw as the ideal candidate to fill the significant void left by N'Golo Kanté in midfield. The failure to finalize this deal left the midfield exposed and ignited a crisis between the coach and the administration. Al-Ittihad is currently searching for quick, temporary solutions to restore balance to the team and return to winning ways in a season that demands decisive action.

The technical staff of the Saudi national football team continued their intensive field visits, completing their program of visits to clubs in the Saudi Professional League. These accelerated steps are part of a comprehensive and early preparation strategy to ensure the "Green Falcons" are ready for their anticipated participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a strategic goal for Saudi football in the coming period.

The current leg of the field tour included visits to clubs in the Eastern Province, specifically Al-Ettifaq, Al-Qadisiyah, and Al-Khaleej. These visits are a continuation of the first phase approved by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, as part of a comprehensive technical action plan aimed primarily at enhancing technical integration and standardizing work methodologies and physical assessments between the national team management and the technical staff of the clubs.

The importance of coordination between the national team and clubs in light of the league's development

These visits take on added importance given the tremendous transformation of the Saudi Professional League, which now boasts a roster of world-class players. This significant development presents new challenges and unique opportunities for Saudi players, as daily exposure to international competition contributes to raising the technical and physical standards of international players. Therefore, the national team's coaching staff strives to ensure that the training load and competitive participation of local players align with the international standards required for the World Cup, and to avoid any conflict between club interests and national duty.

Focus on medical and physical aspects

During these visits, the assistant coaching staff thoroughly reviewed reports on the players nominated for national team selection. The monitoring extended beyond on-field performance to include a comprehensive assessment of physical conditioning, medical records, and recovery rates. Discussions also focused on mechanisms for future coordination to ensure that club training programs align with the national team's training camp requirements, guaranteeing that players reach peak fitness without succumbing to fatigue or muscle injuries.

Expectations for the 2026 World Cup

These moves are part of the national team's technical director's approved work methodology, which aims to raise the players' technical and physical readiness to the highest possible level. Through these early preparations, Saudi football seeks to strengthen its competitive presence in upcoming international tournaments and build upon past achievements. The Saudi sporting community aspires to a distinguished performance at the 2026 World Cup that goes beyond mere participation, especially after the Green Falcons' heroic showing in the previous edition.

It is worth mentioning that the visit program will continue during the coming period to include a number of other Roshan League clubs, with the aim of expanding the selection base and closely examining the progress of all players nominated to represent the nation in the upcoming global event.