Al-Ittihad Defeats Al-Hazm 3-2: Wissing Discusses Team's Grit

Al-Ittihad walked off with the points and a few heavy legs. A 3-2 win over Al-Hazm in the Saudi Roshn League kept their unbeaten run rolling, but Jens Wissing saw the toll of a brutal schedule written all over the second half.

“We are happy with the win, and there is no easy encounter given the fixture congestion,” the German said after the game. Five matches in two weeks. Four wins. No defeats. The numbers look clean; the performance did not.

Al-Ittihad flew through the first half, imposed their game and got the goals Wissing wanted. After the break, the picture changed. The tempo dropped, the sharpness dulled, and Al-Hazm were invited back into a contest that should have been closed.

“We produced a brilliant first half and scored, but we lost our sharpness in the second half and allowed the opponent to attack,” he admitted. “The most important thing in the end is securing the victory.”

Fixture chaos and a work in progress

Wissing did not hide behind clichés. He went straight to the schedule.

“We played five matches in two weeks,” he reminded. “We played three days ago against Al-Qadsiah, and we exerted a great deal of physical effort, and that certainly affected us.”

Al-Hazm leaned into that fatigue. Long balls, constant duels, forcing Al-Ittihad to turn and chase.

“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 win keeps Al-Ittihad’s start intact, but Wissing was clear: this is not the finished product.

“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 demands I ask of the players are being carried out well, but they are not yet at the best possible level.”

He knows there is still room – and time – to adjust. “We are certainly happy with our start, it is a good one for the season, but we still have a lot ahead of us. The transfer window is also still open, and we are studying our options.”

Diaby left out: “Not mentally ready”

One of the night’s biggest talking points never stepped on the pitch.

Moussa Diaby trained. He was available. He still did not make the squad. Wissing’s explanation was blunt.

“The answer is simple. When a player comes and says he is not mentally ready, he cannot be involved.”

No half-measures, no compromises.

“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.”

With games coming thick and fast, Wissing drew a clear line: mental and physical readiness or no role at all.

Unshakeable faith in En-Nesyri

If Diaby’s absence raised eyebrows, Youssef En-Nesyri’s form has raised voices. The Moroccan striker has been under fire for a drop in goals, but his coach did not hesitate to stand in front of him.

“Youssef En-Nesyri is one of my best players,” Wissing insisted. “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.”

The criticism focuses on numbers. Wissing looks at everything else.

“He may be unsuccessful in scoring, but he puts in a high and excellent effort, and that matters to me.”

Al-Ittihad leave this congested spell unbeaten, still searching for their top gear, still tweaking the squad, and still backing their main striker. The results are there. The question now is how high this side can climb once the legs – and minds – finally catch up.