Simone Inzaghi walked into his press conference sounding like a coach in a hurry. No time for sulking, no time for excuses. Just matches, coming thick and fast, and a title race that will not wait.
“We trained well yesterday, and today we’ll train after the press conference,” he said, as reported 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.”
Al-Hilal need that quick turnaround. Four days earlier they had stumbled, drawing 2-2 with Al-Taawoun at the Kingdom Arena in the 27th round of the Roshen League. Two points dropped, questions raised, and suddenly every fixture carries a sharper edge.
League now, cup later
Hovering over this game is an unusual subplot: Al-Khulud. The same Al-Khulud who stunned Al-Ittihad in the semi-finals of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, reaching the final for the first time in their history and earning a date with Al-Hilal.
Tomorrow, though, is not about the cup.
“Tomorrow’s match will not affect the cup tie,” Inzaghi insisted. “Al-Khulud deserve to be in the final, but we must focus on the league fixture.”
The message was clear. Respect, yes. Distraction, no.
He underlined how Al-Khulud have grown under continuity and smart tweaking.
“They have the same manager, and in the winter they managed to make some changes to the squad,” he said. “They are a well-organised team, and in their last match against Al-Khaleej they put in a good performance.”
Al-Hilal know exactly what happens when you underestimate them. Al-Ittihad paid that price. Inzaghi has no intention of joining them.
New faces, slow burn
The Italian also turned his attention to the winter recruits, the fresh faces tasked with adapting quickly to the demands and expectations that come with wearing Al-Hilal’s shirt.
“Any player, especially those who joined us in January, needs time to settle into their new team,” he explained.
“Simon Boabri, Mohammed Qadir Miti and Sultan Mandash have joined us; they come from different backgrounds and need time to settle in.”
The adjustment period has been a live topic inside the camp. The coach referenced what had already been said publicly.
“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.”
Patience is rarely abundant at a club chasing trophies on multiple fronts, but Inzaghi is pushing for it, even as the schedule tightens and the stakes rise.
Waiting on Benzema
One name, though, dominates any team discussion: Karim Benzema.
The French striker missed the draw against Al-Taawoun with a toe injury, and his availability for the Al-Khulud clash remains uncertain.
“We’ll see how Benzema is today,” Inzaghi 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.”
It is a familiar balancing act. Risk a star too early, or hold him back and trust the depth? The medical report and the final training session will dictate the answer.
Goals are not the problem
While questions swirl around fitness and form, Inzaghi pushed back firmly on one narrative: that Al-Hilal lack firepower.
Statistically, he has a point. His side own the second-best 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,” he said. “We must capitalise on them, as in the match against Al-Taawoun.”
The issue, in his eyes, lies more in the fine details than in the overall structure. Concentration at the back. Ruthlessness in front of goal.
“But with increased focus on the defensive side and capitalising on the chances we create, we will improve,” he concluded. “And despite the lack of time, we must improve.”
No grand declarations. Just a blunt reality: the matches are coming fast, the margins are thin, and Al-Hilal’s season will be defined by how quickly those words turn into performances.
