Jaissle shatters Tony departure rumors with a bench reveal and a 1-0 Saudi Pro League win
23 October 2025
German coach Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli Jeddah addressed rumors linking his English striker Ivan Toney with a potential departure during the January window, explaining the real reason for his absence from the starting XI against Al Najmah.
Jaissle guided Al Ahli to a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Al Najmah at King Abdullah Sports City in Buraydah, in the Saudi Pro League’s Round 6.
The truth about Toney's departure
In a surprising lineup shake-up, Ivan Toney started on the bench as Firas Al-Brikan took his place and scored the winner, with the English forward coming on as a late substitute.
Asked in the post-match press conference whether the decision was influenced by rumors about Toney’s potential exit amid interest from other clubs, Jaissle replied: "I won't comment on social media rumors, but I saw that Firas was the more ready option, so I started him."
Jaissle has relied on Toney as a regular this season, featuring in 14 matches, 12 of them as a starter, with 9 goals and 2 assists.
The earlier match against Al Najmah saw Toney appear as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League group stage on September 29.
Galinio's injury
On the injury front, Jaissle discussed Brazilian winger Galinio, who remains sidelined as the medical team pushes for a swift, careful return.
Galinio has missed several Ahli matches this season and has appeared in only six games, without a goal or an assist.
Match versus Al Najmah
Regarding the Al Najmah game, the German coach said he was dissatisfied with the result despite the win, noting that his team squandered several chances and could have scored four or more.
He added: "The win was deserved, but the scoreline isn’t ideal; we could have scored four or more. The penalty we earned was correctly awarded, though it was later disallowed."
He also commented on the travel logistics: the squad traveled from Jeddah to Buraydah on the day of the match and arrived at noon, a club decision he finds logical given the three-day match rhythm.
The win lifted Al Ahli to 12 points, placing them fourth in the Saudi Pro League table, three points behind leaders Al Nassr, who have a game in hand.
Najmah coach’s remarks
Portuguese coach Mario Silva of Al Najmah admitted the challenge of facing a strong Asian champions, describing Al Ahli as a tough opponent and the cupholders of Asia who pushed them hard to the end.
Silva said that after a poor run, they tried to motivate the team, but the better side prevailed, noting they were short on players and lacking alternatives in defense.
He added: "I’m honest about absences; the club supports us, and I decide on the lineup. If a player is missing, it’s often administrative; when present, I make tactical calls."
Najmah have endured five straight league losses, sitting 18th and last with zero points. They will aim to bounce back in the King Cup last-16 clash against Al Kholoud on Monday.
Punchline time: If rumors were goals, Toney would be the league’s top scorer—Jaissle just booked him a front-row seat to the reality show called football. Punchline 2: In football, as in life, the only extra time you want is extra training, not extra rumors—luckily, Jaissle seems to coach with both feet on the ground.
