Al-Ittihad coach cites errors in defeat to Shabab Al-Ahli as Jardim hails victory

Al-Ittihad head coach Jens Vissing of Denmark and Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai's Portuguese manager André Jardim both agreed on the difficulty of their meeting in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite West Zone 2026-2027. The match ended with a 2-1 victory for the UAE side at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Vissing admitted Al-Ittihad did not perform as expected at the start, explaining that conceding two goals due to mistakes proved costly, despite his team having possession and creating several chances.

The Al-Ittihad coach noted his team tried to get back into the match and improved in the second half, managing to reach the opponent's goal but failing to capitalize on their opportunities. He expressed disappointment at the loss, especially as the team was aiming for a win in their second tournament match to make up for a previous league defeat.

Vissing added that a long break and the absence of some players from recent matches affected the team's readiness. He stressed that the coaching staff would analyze the reasons behind the recent results and work to address both individual and collective errors.

For his part, Shabab Al-Ahli coach André Jardim said the match was tough for both sides, acknowledging Al-Ittihad's quality. He noted his players managed to score twice and could have increased the tally before focusing on defensive organization in the second half and effectively dealing with the opponent's attempts.

Jardim explained that his team relied on counterattacks and seizing the right moments, combining defensive discipline with possession and organized attacking play. He praised his players for executing the game plan and confirmed the team achieved its goal by securing all three points.