Al-Muntashri Targets Jaissle After Al-Ahli's 3-0 Win
Former Saudi star Hamad Al-Muntashri took aim at Al-Ahli's German coach Matias Jaissle, even as the team cruised to a 3-0 victory over Al-Batin to reach the King Cup quarterfinals on Monday.
Al-Ahli eased into the knockout rounds with a commanding performance, sealing a 3-0 win over Al-Batin in the Round of 16.
In a TV interview, Al-Muntashri said the victory was important after years without deep runs, noting that Al-Batin was not at their best, but Al-Ahli played with purpose and grabbed an early goal, giving the team room to breathe.
He added that Jaissle has been in charge for three years but has failed to lift the side, suggesting he only has one idea that he keeps trying to apply.
Jaissle Responds and Other Talking Points
Jaissle defended his approach, arguing the team controlled the match and earned their qualification. He stressed there were no excuses about the pitch or the balls, saying they played with their own ball and showed resilience.
The coach also weighed in on the classic clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, saying the capital club is more stable and ready, but the gap could narrow under Conceicao's leadership—an assessment that sparked its own discussion.
Tony's Future at Al-Ahli — English forward Ivan Tony reportedly intends to stay with Al-Ahli, turning down European offers, according to the Saudi daily Al-Yom. Tony joined from Brentford last summer and has 39 goals in 57 appearances at the age of 29.
Super Cup Outlook — Yasser Al-Mishal warned that Al-Ahli risk losing the Saudi Super Cup and criticized some early committee decisions. The ruling could still be revised, with scenarios including the cup being awarded to Qadsiah or the opposite outcome being declared.
The federation chief also addressed Hervé Renard’s future, confirming he will continue to coach the national team through the 2027 Asian Cup, and dismissed rumors of a €50 million Mancini severance as unfounded.
Under Jaissle, Al-Ahli won the Saudi Super Cup for the second time, ending a nine-year wait and becoming the first side outside the top four to win the trophy, aided by Al-Hilal’s absence from the competition. The format typically favors the top finishers, but this year’s result was an exception that underscored the Cup’s unpredictable nature.
Ultimately, the cup’s history shows a rule: strong teams usually lead, but this season proved a remarkable anomaly for Al-Ahli’s bold run.
Punchline: Jaissle’s main tactic, apparently, is “defend and pretend it’s a clever plan” – the kind of strategic depth that can fit on a napkin after a win.
Punchline 2: If Jaissle ever invents a second idea, it’ll revolutionize the art of coaching—mostly by adding more minutes of press conference time than actual play, because apparently that helps the team meditate on defense.
