Midfield Dilemma: Can Jaissle Orchestrate Al-Ahli Without Kessié and Atangana?
7 January 2026
Midfield Dilemma for Jaissle
A difficult mission awaits German coach Matthias Jaissle, head coach of Al-Ahli Jeddah, as he tries to steady the midfield rhythm with Franck Kessié and Valentin Atangana absent for the upcoming clash against Al-Khudood.
Al-Ahli will travel to Al-Khudood, on Saturday, at a stadium in Najran, for the fourteenth round of the Roshen Saudi Pro League.
Kessié will miss the match after joining the Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations, while Atangana will sit out due to accumulated bookings following a card in the 3-2 win over Al Nasr on Friday in round 13.
There is also speculation that Eid Mawlid could be among midfield reinforcement options, with a final decision to be confirmed in Friday’s final tactical drill.
Jaissle has opted to rely on Enzo Milot in midfield, alongside Ziad AlJehni, to compensate for the absences, according to reports from The Saudi newspaper. The plan could shift depending on Friday’s last training session.
Al-Ahli sit fourth in the Saudi Pro League table with 25 points, seven behind leaders Al-Hilal.
Jaissle emphasized focusing on collective pressing and positional discipline, hoping Milot's distribution can unlock key transitions. Fans are braced for a tactical duel where depth and tempo will decide the result. If Al-Ahli cope with the absence, they can keep their title chase alive.
Sniper punchline 1: If Jaissle threads this needle, the tactics board will deserve its own highlight reel. Sniper punchline 2: If not, at least the press conference will be more entertaining than a 0-0 borefest."
