Inzaghi says last season's Asian Champions League exit a lesson for Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal’s Italian head coach Simone Inzaghi has underlined the importance of a strong start in the AFC Asian Champions League Elite, emphasizing that the upcoming match against Qatar’s Al-Gharafa will be the team’s first real test in the competition, despite the tight schedule between fixtures.

Inzaghi said that last season’s experience in the tournament would serve as a lesson for the team this year, explaining: “What happened last season in the Asian Champions League Elite will be a lesson for us this season. We were excellent in the group stage and finished top, but we were eliminated in the round of 16.”

Al-Hilal are set to face Al-Gharafa on Tuesday evening in their opening group match, with a clear determination to secure all three points. Inzaghi confirmed his side will approach the game “with full strength and intensity” to claim victory.

Inzaghi noted that Al-Hilal are familiar with Al-Gharafa, having met them in last year’s edition. He pointed out that the Qatari side has largely retained its coach and players, and warned of their fast-paced attacking options.

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The Al-Hilal coach confirmed that Bouabari is fit and available for the match, adding that the technical staff will look to utilize all available players throughout the Asian Champions League Elite campaign.

Inzaghi stressed that Al-Hilal treat every match individually, noting that the team is fully focused on the Al-Gharafa clash as their first fixture in the tournament, despite having played Al-Taawoun just 48 hours earlier.

He added that the coaching staff aims to make the most of the final training session to prepare the squad, maintaining focus despite the congested fixture list and short recovery time between games.

Inzaghi concluded by reaffirming Al-Hilal’s desire to secure victory over Al-Gharafa and claim their first three points in the AFC Asian Champions League Elite.