Vesing praises Al-Ittihad discipline as Postecoglou blames Al-Nassr loss on slow start

Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr head coaches, Germany’s Jens Vesing and Australia’s Ange Postecoglou, discussed their teams’ encounter at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, part of the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League (Roshn League), which saw Al-Ittihad claim a 2-1 victory.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Vesing said Al-Ittihad delivered an impressive performance during several phases of the match, praising the players’ discipline and competitive spirit. He noted that the team asserted its dominance early on, scoring twice and creating further chances.

He highlighted the team’s clear technical and mental improvement compared to previous matches, emphasizing the players’ success in executing tactical instructions and maintaining balance—especially in the second half, when technical adjustments were made to limit the opponent’s threat.

For his part, Postecoglou said Al-Nassr’s unsteady start was the main reason for the defeat, explaining that his side failed to settle into the match during the opening minutes.

He added that Al-Nassr gradually regained composure and performed better in the second half, creating several dangerous chances. However, a lack of finishing and the outstanding performance of Al-Ittihad’s goalkeeper prevented an equalizer. He stressed that facing a strong team at home in front of their fans requires full mental and technical focus from the outset.

Postecoglou praised his players’ second-half display, affirming that the team showed its attacking capabilities and created enough opportunities to level the score.