Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Al-Ittihad player Reus will need a period of 8 weeks (two months) at a minimum, up to 12 weeks (3 months) to return to the stadiums again.
Al-Ittihad Club officially announced the results of the MRI that Colombian Richard Rios, Al-Ittihad player, underwent. According to the club, the player suffered a sprain in his left ankle, in addition to damage to the peroneal ligament.
This comes as a result of the injury he suffered in the left ankle, which according to private sources showed that he had suffered a complete tear in one of the main ligaments of the ankle, with the injury extending to the tissues connecting the two leg bones, and the presence of fluid accumulation in the ankle joint. The final duration of his absence will be determined according to the treatment plan and the extent of the player’s response to recovery.
She said that the physical aspect and muscle strength of the player constitute a major factor for the speed of recovery after injury, which is the aspect that distinguishes the Colombian player.
It indicated that the expected return of the Al-Ittihad player loaned for one season from Benfica of Portugal will take place between late December 2026, which is unlikely, and until the second half of January 2027.
Al-Shabab Club announced that its Croatian defender, Ten Jedvaj, suffered a cruciate ligament tear, after the injury he sustained during the confrontation with Al-Ahly, which ended with a 6-1 victory for “Al-Lyouth” in the round 12 competitions of the Saudi Professional League.
Yedvay left the match in the 62nd minute after sustaining an injury, before undergoing medical examinations that revealed a torn cruciate ligament, and he will begin a treatment and rehabilitation program during the coming period.
Through a post on the “X” platform, the president of Al-Shabab Club expressed his support for the Croatian player, saying: “An injury may keep you off the field, but it cannot take away the hero’s passion or determination. We believe in your strength and ability to come back, and we know that you will come back stronger. We are all behind you, and we are waiting to see you again where you belong.”
The Croatian defender played 12 matches for Al-Shabab this season, before his participation stopped due to the injury he suffered against Al-Ahly.
Last July, Al-Shabab announced its contract with Yedvay, coming from Panathinaikos of Greece, on a one-year contract, with the option of renewing for an additional year, to enhance the team’s options in the back line.
On the defensive front, the Al-Asmi team conceded 15 goals during 11 matches in the league competitions this season, while it succeeded in coming out with a clean sheet in three matches against Al-Khaleej, Al-Fayhaa and Al-Taawoun.
Yedvay's injury comes at a time when Al-Shabab is trying to consolidate its steps on the path to victories and restore a greater degree of balance, which puts the technical staff before a new challenge in the back line during the next stage.
Al-Ahly's shocking loss to Al-Shabab in a six-point match, in the Saudi Professional League, was not just a passing bump in the Asian continent's champion's journey. Rather, it came as a technical and public shock that brought back many questions about the team's ability to compete, and the extent of the success of the technical staff led by Dutchman Marino Pusic in addressing the mistakes that clearly appeared during the confrontation.
The defeat came at a time when Al-Ahly was experiencing a state of relative stability, after achieving 5 consecutive victories in various competitions, amidst high public expectations for the possibility of continuing positive results and progressing in the ranking table, before it suffered a heavy loss that stopped its series of victories, and froze its score at 21 points in sixth place.
Al-Ahly's suffering began early after they conceded a goal in the second minute from Ricardo Matias, in a scene that revealed clear defensive confusion, before the difficulties multiplied with the expulsion of goalkeeper Abdul Rahman Al-Sanabi in the 22nd minute, a decision that forced the technical staff to make forced changes, and directly affected the team's defensive balance.
Although the numerical shortage constituted an important turning point in the match, individual mistakes and poor defensive positioning contributed to the widening of the difference, after Al-Shabab succeeded in exploiting spaces and confusion within Al-Ahly’s ranks, ending the confrontation with a wide victory, amid questions about the players’ ability to deal with difficult conditions on the field.
Firas Al-Braikan's goal was not enough to bring Al-Ahly back into the atmosphere of the match, after Al-Shabab continued its offensive superiority, benefiting from the brilliance of Belgian Yannick Carrasco, who scored 3 goals, in addition to a brace by Ricardo Matias and a goal by Roger Martinez.
Al-Ahly entered the confrontation in the absence of a number of its influential members, led by Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and English striker Ivan Toney, which reduced the options available to the technical staff, especially in the goalkeeping and attacking positions.
However, the size of the loss opened the door to discussion about the readiness of the substitutes, and the extent of the team’s ability to maintain its balance in the absence of the basic elements, in light of the crowded local and continental competitions, and the need to have a substitute bench capable of providing the required addition.
This match brings the goalkeeping issue back to the forefront, especially after Al-Sanby was expelled and the technical staff was forced to seek the help of goalkeeper Abdullah Abdo, at a time when Al-Ahly needs solutions that give it more stability in this sensitive position.
The loss puts Dutch coach Marino Pusic before an important test, after the team had shown positive indicators during its recent matches, whether in terms of results or morale.
The most prominent challenges facing the coach are addressing defensive errors, reorganizing lines, improving the players’ ability to deal with rapid transitions, in addition to finding tactical solutions that prevent the recurrence of collapse when exposed to pressure from competitors.
Pusic admitted after the confrontation that his team had committed several individual mistakes, offering his apologies to Al-Ahly fans for the large and unexpected result, and stressing that they would work to correct the mistakes before the next confrontation against Al-Sadd of Qatar in the “AFC Elite Champions League.”
On the administrative level, the loss puts the new Al-Ahly Board of Directors, headed by Abdullah Al-Sabban, before one of the most prominent tests since he assumed his duties, after the last period witnessed a positive atmosphere that accompanied a series of victories, in addition to administrative steps aimed at enhancing stability and communication with various parties within the club.
It is important to deal with the repercussions of the loss calmly, away from emotional decisions, with the necessity of identifying the technical reasons that led to conceding 6 goals, and assessing the team’s needs during the next stage.
The scale of public aspirations also imposes a double responsibility on the management and technical staff in restoring confidence, especially since Al-Ahly has a group of players with high technical capabilities, which makes the team’s appearance at this defensive level a subject to legitimate questions.
The repercussions of defeat do not stop at losing 3 points, but rather extend to its potential impact on the morale of the players and the confidence of the fans, after the recent victories had restored optimism about the possibility of competing for advanced positions.
The most important challenge for Al-Ahly will be how to respond to this loss, and the extent to which the technical staff is able to turn it into a correction point, instead of allowing it to have repercussions on the rest of the entitlements.
While the loss seems harsh in terms of its result and details, it does not necessarily mean the end of Al-Ahly’s ambitions this season, but it does reveal aspects of deficiencies that require urgent treatment, especially in defensive organization, mental readiness, and dealing with the course of difficult matches.
The most prominent question remains within Al-Ahly circles: Is the youth hex just an exceptional night that the team will quickly overcome, or does it reveal deeper technical problems that need intervention before the gap with the leading teams widens?
The real response will be on the field, starting with the upcoming Asian confrontation, which represents an important opportunity to restore balance and prove the team’s ability to overcome one of its harshest losses this season.
