Al-Ittihad's Wissing Reflects on Thrilling 3-2 Win and Diaby's Absence
Al-Ittihad walked off with three points and a few frayed nerves after a 3-2 win over Al-Hazm in the Saudi Roshn League, and Jens Wissing did not try to dress it up. The German technical director was satisfied, yes, but he made it clear the performance bore the marks of a team pushed to its physical limit.
“We are happy with the win, and there is no easy encounter given the fixture congestion,” he said after the match, pointing straight at the schedule as a key factor. Five games in under two weeks. Four wins. No defeats. But also, clear signs of fatigue.
Al-Ittihad produced what Wissing called a “brilliant” first half, taking control and getting the goals they needed. Then the legs started to go. The sharpness faded. Al-Hazm grew into the game and forced Al-Ittihad to retreat.
“We played five matches in two weeks, produced a brilliant first half and scored, but we lost our sharpness in the second half and allowed the opponent to attack. The most important thing in the end is securing the victory,” he said.
A Strong Start, But No One Is Relaxing
On paper, it is an excellent opening stretch to the season. Four wins from five, unbeaten, and already showing signs of a team that can grind out results when the rhythm breaks.
“We are certainly happy with our start, it is a good one for the season, but we still have a lot ahead of us,” Wissing warned. The message was clear: this is a platform, not a finished product.
He also reminded everyone that the squad is not yet set in stone. “The transfer window is also still open, and we are studying our options,” he added, hinting that Al-Ittihad are still weighing up how to reinforce a team that is being asked to play at high intensity every few days.
Why Moussa Diaby Stayed Out
One of the biggest talking points around Al-Ittihad has been the repeated absence of Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman has been training, but once again did not feature. Wissing did not dodge the question.
“The answer is simple. When a player comes and says he is not mentally ready, he cannot be involved,” he said.
No ambiguity. No half-explanations. If a player is not fully there, he does not play.
“I want players who are ready, and in the coming period we have a lot of fixture congestion, so if a player is not 100% ready, I am not prepared to rely on him,” Wissing explained.
The demand is clear: physical and mental readiness, or step aside. With the matches piling up, Wissing is not willing to carry passengers.
Chasing High-Intensity Football
Wissing has a clear idea of what he wants Al-Ittihad to become, and he admitted they are not there yet.
“Since the start of the camp we have been working on developing ourselves, because we want to produce football that relies on high intensity, but we have not reached that yet,” he said.
The work is ongoing. The players are following instructions, but the ceiling is higher.
“The demands I ask of the players are being carried out well, but they are not yet at the best possible level,” he added.
The drop-off against Al-Hazm, in his eyes, was not tactical. It was physical. “We played three days ago against Al-Qadsiah, and we exerted a great deal of physical effort, and that certainly affected us,” he said.
Al-Hazm did their part in making it a draining night too. “We faced a side that wore us down with long balls, and we were forced to exert a great effort. Every team has its own weapons, and in the end the result is the most important thing.”
The result: a narrow 3-2 win that kept the unbeaten run intact, but also underlined how punishing this early stretch has been.
Wissing Stands Firm Behind En-Nesyri
If Diaby’s absence raised eyebrows, another storyline has followed Youssef En-Nesyri. The Moroccan striker has been under fire for a drop in goals, his finishing questioned by fans and media alike.
Wissing’s response was emphatic.
“Youssef En-Nesyri is one of my best players. Since my arrival he has been one of the best players, and I do not care what the media or the fans say about him,” he stated.
He did not hide from the obvious. “He may be unsuccessful in scoring,” Wissing admitted, but he immediately drew attention to what he values most. “He puts in a high and excellent effort, and that matters to me.”
In a squad stretched by a relentless schedule, the coach is backing work rate, commitment, and reliability. The goals, he believes, can return. The attitude must not drop.
Al-Ittihad have survived a brutal opening run without a defeat, carried by intensity, effort, and a coach unafraid to lay down clear lines. With the window still open and the calendar unrelenting, the real question now is whether this group can grow from grinding out wins to dominating games the way Wissing insists they must.
