Zarko Lazetic, Al-Taawoun coach, confirmed that his team was the better side during the match against Al-Hazm despite the loss, pointing out that the results do not reflect what the team is presenting on the field, calling for a reconsideration of the group and a deeper analysis of the reasons for the decline in results.
Lazic said during the press conference: “We congratulate Al-Hazm for the victory, and it is difficult to explain the circumstances of the match. I think that the better team lost, and this matter is repeated with us unfortunately, and we must reconsider the group.”
He added: “I did not mention that we are bad, but I said that it is difficult to explain aspects of the match. Because we were the best, and the statistics show that the opponent had no chances, and we played with all our might to equalize, and when you do not score, the players become somewhat frustrated.”
The coach touched on the statements of Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi, saying: “I heard Al Hilal coach Inzaghi saying that he did not sleep after the last match, and I think that I could not sleep for a long time, and for more than one round.”
In turn, Jalal Qadri, Al-Hazm coach, confirmed that his team played a difficult match against Al-Taawoun, noting that the opponent appeared strong even though his results did not reflect what he presented on the field.
Qadri said in the press conference: “It was a difficult match against a fierce competitor, and Al-Taawoun’s results do not reflect what it offers, but we knew how to advance the result, and we put Al-Taawoun under pressure, and we succeeded defensively, and what worries us most is injuries.”
He added: “In the second half, Al-Taawoun dominated, but without any danger, and we got chances and were able to finish the match, but the most important thing is that we got the points even though we did not play our usual football.”
Australian Arthur Pappas, coach of Al-Ettifaq, said that his team gave a strong performance against Al-Faisaly, despite the scoreless draw, pointing out that the problem is the failure to translate control and opportunities into goals.
Pappas stressed, during the press conference after the match: “I cannot put more pressure on my team’s players, as they gave a strong performance, and we reached Al-Faisaly’s goal about 25 times, while the opponent reached our goal on only 3 occasions.”
Regarding the draw, which was described as disappointing for the two teams, and what the team can offer against Al-Qadisiyah, on Friday, Pappas answered Al-Sharq Al-Awsat’s question: “We do not have time to make many changes before the next confrontation, and we must correct what can be corrected. It is important that we activate our attacking position, and turn our control and access to the opponents’ goal into tangible results through scoring.”
In turn, Italian Giovanni Solinas, coach of Al-Faisaly, confirmed that the high temperature affected the level of his team’s confrontation with Al-Ettifaq, praising, at the same time, the fighting spirit that his players showed throughout the match.
Giovanni said in the press conference: “The temperature affected the state of the match, but my players fought until the end, and I salute them for what they did, and therefore the result of a draw in this match can be accepted.”
The Al-Faisaly coach responded to Asharq Al-Awsat’s question about the team’s failure to perform at the desired levels and results during the past rounds, stressing that evaluating the team in this way is “unfair,” noting that Al-Faisaly presented distinguished matches and matches against a number of competitors. Among them are “Al-Hilal” and “Al-Qadisiyah”.
Giovanni explained that the technical staff works according to the available capabilities, saying: “I agree that Al-Faisaly does not have players at a level comparable to some clubs, and we have not concluded major deals, and these are our financial conditions and capabilities, and we work according to the allocated budget, but I must protect my team’s players, defend them, and praise them, not belittle them.”
Al-Ittihad Club announced the absence of the trio, Ahmed Al-Julaidan, Mukhtar Ali, and Predrag Rajkovic, from facing Al-Fayhaa, after the medical examinations they underwent showed the nature of the injuries they suffered during the last Al-Nasr match.
The Federation explained, in a medical report, that the examinations conducted for the players at the International Medical Center, the club’s medical partner, confirmed that Ahmed Al-Jalidan was injured in the posterior muscle of the left thigh, while Mukhtar Ali suffered from an injury in the right connective muscle.
Tests also revealed that Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic suffered a tear in the abdominal wall muscles on the right side.
The club confirmed that the three players have begun their rehabilitation programs under the supervision of the medical staff, and that updates on their recovery from the injury will be revealed later.
