Al-Ahli coach hails deserved win over Al-Gharafa, eyes Asian Champions League improvement

Al-Ahli Saudi head coach Marin Pusic expressed his delight after his team’s 2-1 victory over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa in their third-round match of the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Pusic said his side deserved the win after delivering a strong performance from the outset and maintaining control of the game. However, he noted that missed chances prevented Al-Ahli from settling the result in the first half.

He added that Al-Gharafa managed to get back into the match in the second half, expressing respect for the Qatari team’s abilities. Pusic congratulated his player Matheus Gonçalves for scoring an excellent goal and said he looks forward to maintaining strong performances in upcoming fixtures.

The Al-Ahli coach acknowledged the challenges posed by a congested fixture schedule and facing strong opponents in multiple competitions. He stressed the importance of this win at this stage, noting the team’s improvement despite the physical demands, but admitted Al-Ahli has yet to reach the desired level.

For his part, Al-Ahli player Matheus Gonçalves, who was named man of the match, expressed his happiness at scoring and creating chances. He emphasized his commitment to making an impact for the team, thanked the coaching staff for the opportunity to play, and affirmed his readiness to serve the team at all times.

Gonçalves added that securing the win was the most important outcome, as Al-Ahli aims to continue its positive run in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Al-Gharafa head coach Pedro Martinez said his team played a competitive match, especially in the second half. He considered the red card a deserved turning point, after which Al-Ahli scored their second goal.

Martinez said both teams shared control of the game, praised his players’ efforts despite numerous absences, and confirmed the team’s aim to build on their technical gains and achieve positive results in upcoming matches.

He noted that Al-Gharafa created several chances after Yacine Brahimi came on, but failed to capitalize, stressing the need to improve attacking efficiency in future games.