Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Portuguese coach Jorge Jesús emphasized that Al Hilal has achieved its initial goal of winning the Super Cup, but many objectives remain for the season ahead.

Following a convincing 3-1 victory against Al Ittihad in the Saudi Clasico, the capital club now sits at the top of the Saudi Pro League table after four rounds.

In the post-match press conference, Jesús stressed the need for a home ground that players and fans can acclimatize to, mentioning that Al Hilal has recently played at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium while awaiting the readiness of the Kingdom Arena for future matches.

He remarked on the high quality of play in the first half, noting, "We scored three high-quality goals. The temperature today was high, making it difficult to maintain the same pace for the full ninety minutes."

Jesús praised Al Ittihad's improvement this season compared to last, acknowledging the global viewership of the match, which showcased high-quality football that captivated fans in Portugal, Brazil, and beyond.

Discussing tactics, Jesús highlighted the importance of defensive strength against dangerous players like Moussa Diaby. He commended Renan Lodi for his performance, noting that when Lodi left the field, Diaby became a more significant threat. "Lodi may not be as creative offensively as João Cancelo, but he is strong defensively."

On Al Hilal's strength, Jesús stated, "We are not only strong locally but also on the continental level. We've shown that it's difficult for anyone to defeat us. Although we had a challenging start to the season, we now have a year of experience without a loss, aside from one continental defeat."

He concluded by acknowledging the difficulties of maintaining consistency in any team but expressed confidence in his squad's spirit and tactical cohesion. "We've achieved our goal of winning the Super Cup, but we have more targets ahead, including the cup and league, as well as aims for the World Cup and the continental finals."