Simone Inzaghi walked into the press room sounding like a man in a hurry. Not flustered. Focused.
“We trained well yesterday, and today we’ll train after the press conference,” he said, as relayed by Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiah. “We’re trying to prepare as best we can, and I’m delighted that matches are resuming quickly to bring joy to our fans.”
No time to dwell on frustration. Al-Hilal are back on the pitch just four days after a jarring stumble at Kingdom Arena, where a 2-2 draw with Al-Taawoun in the 27th round of the Roshen League checked their momentum and raised questions about their edge at both ends of the pitch.
League now, cup later
Waiting for them next: Al-Khulud. The same Al-Khulud who stunned Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, booking a historic first appearance in the final and setting up another date with Al-Hilal.
The narrative almost writes itself, but Inzaghi refused to mix competitions.
“Tomorrow’s match will not affect the cup tie; Al-Khulud deserve to be in the final, but we must focus on the league fixture,” he said, drawing a clear line between the immediate task and the looming final.
Al-Khulud’s rise has not gone unnoticed. Their winter tweaks and steady hand on the touchline have turned them into far more than a romantic underdog.
“They have the same manager, and in the winter they managed to make some changes to the squad,” Inzaghi explained. “They are a well-organised team, and in their last match against Al-Khaleej they put in a good performance.”
Respect, not fear. But certainly no complacency.
New faces, slow burn
The Italian also moved to shield his January arrivals from snap judgements. The winter window brought fresh names to “Al-Zaeem”, but not instant miracles.
“Any player, especially those who joined us in January, needs time to settle into their new team,” he said.
“Simon Boabri, Mohammed Qadir Miti and Sultan Mandash have joined us; they come from different backgrounds and need time to settle in.”
That theme of patience has become a quiet refrain inside the camp.
“As Miti mentioned before the Al-Taawoun match, it is natural that new players need some time to make the impact the fans are hoping for,” Inzaghi continued.
The message is clear: judge the process, not just the first few outings.
Benzema question hangs over Al-Khulud clash
One name, though, always dominates the conversation. Karim Benzema missed the Al-Taawoun game with a toe injury, and his status for the Al-Khulud match remains the biggest variable on Inzaghi’s teamsheet.
“We’ll see how Benzema is today,” the coach said. “And as for all the players who were out of the last match – such as Benzema, Salem (Al-Dossari) and Bouabri – we’ll see if they’re fit to play in tomorrow’s match.”
The uncertainty forces Al-Hilal to prepare two game plans: one with their French striker leading the line, one without. Either way, the responsibility in the final third cannot rest on one player alone.
Goals not the problem, insists Inzaghi
Talk of a misfiring attack doesn’t sit easily with Inzaghi, and he came armed with numbers. Al-Hilal, he reminded everyone, boast the second-strongest attack in the Saudi Pro League with 69 goals, trailing only Al-Nassr’s 76.
“As for our attack, we are the second-best attacking line-up, and we have had plenty of chances; we must capitalise on them, as in the match against Al-Taawoun,” he said.
The implication is blunt: the structure works, the volume is there, the finishing and concentration must catch up.
“But with increased focus on the defensive side and capitalising on the chances we create, we will improve; and despite the lack of time, we must improve,” he concluded.
The schedule is relentless, the margin for error shrinking. Between a league race that punishes every dropped point and a cup final looming against a fearless Al-Khulud, Al-Hilal have no choice now but to turn promise into precision.
