October 29
The Italian coach suffers his second defeat of the season
Simone Inzaghi, the Italian manager of Saudi club Al-Hilal, has come under fierce criticism following a surprise defeat to Qatari side Al-Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Hilal lost 1–3 to Al-Shamal in a match held this past Tuesday at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, as part of the third round of the tournament’s league phase.
Saudi media personality Abdullah Fallatah mocked Inzaghi’s management of the match, arguing that the coach was primarily responsible for the defeat due to his tactical decisions.
Speaking to a Saudi channel that broadcasts the Roshn Saudi League, Fallatah remarked: "After what I saw from Al-Hilal, I’ve reconsidered the idea that money is everything. Sometimes you have the funds, but your coach comes along and squanders that investment."
He continued: "Money isn't everything; you need a coach who knows how to manage those resources. The team has players worth a billion [riyals], yet he [Inzaghi] decides to bench all the key starters."
Fallatah added: "He [Inzaghi] seems to have underestimated Al-Shamal, treating them as a newcomer—even though they competed for the Qatari league title last season and boast standout players, most notably Riyad Mahrez."
He concluded: "While this is certainly not the end of the road, nor is it the tournament final, Al-Hilal has a reputation to uphold. It is unacceptable for the team to surrender in such a manner—by leaving all its primary players on the bench." He continued: "Inzaghi fielded second-string players—none of whom had any recent match fitness—and concocted a bizarre recipe for defeat. He bears full responsibility for that loss, without a shadow of a doubt."
He concluded: "While any coach has the right to rotate their squad, what happened here wasn't rotation; it was recklessness, an act of sabotage against the team, and a sign of disrespect toward the opponent. Inzaghi thoroughly deserved this defeat."
It is worth noting that in the match against Al-Shamal, Inzaghi included only three regular starters in his lineup—full-backs Muteb Al-Harbi and Theo Hernández, and midfielder Mohamed Kanno—while relying on substitutes for the rest of the side.
