Al Hilal Chief Fires Back at Sami Al-Jaber’s Take on Inzaghi

The Rebuttal

Prince Nawaf bin Saad, president of Al Hilal, publicly addressed the ongoing criticisms of Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, particularly from former star Sami Al-Jaber. In a TV interview, the host pressed him about a pundit who praised Inzaghi before Nawaf's election to the presidency and now questions the team's identity. The host even showed statements attributed to that pundit—statements the host claimed were the same Sami Al-Jaber had made in the past.

Nawaf responded: Analysts are plentiful, I have no time to listen to them; but if this person truly loves Al Hilal, and he does, ask him whether he wants to win or simply enjoy the ride. If the priority is winning, he would say win; otherwise it would be about enjoyment.

On Neymar's departure, Nawaf noted the club saved more than 80 million Saudi Riyals, a figure linked to disciplinary fines that Neymar faced. He explained the money had been accounted for in the budget and disclosed to all parties after he assumed the presidency.

Transfers, Style, and the Identity Question

During a separate exchange, Sami Al-Jaber had vented a fierce critique of Inzaghi following a 1-0 victory over Al Shabab in the seventh round of the Saudi Pro League at King Abdul Aziz Stadium. He argued the team lacked identity and a champion’s character, winning by a narrow margin with a defensive approach that wasted time and limited attacking options.

Al-Jaber also asserted that Inzaghi's football culture—centered on securing three points regardless of style—was misaligned with Al Hilal's culture, where fans demand expressive play. He recounted specific match observations: despite a win, players rarely created chances, with goals arising from individual effort rather than tactical execution. He pointed to a single sequence that produced the goal in that match as emblematic of the team’s genuine attacking spark.

Nawaf also touched on the broader tactical critique, acknowledging the coach's Italian pedigree and a recent World Club Championship schedule that arguably constrained preparation. He emphasized that the roster, including defenders and midfielders, must work within a defined system, not merely rely on individual brilliance. He added that even when results look impressive on the scoreboard, supporters judge by how the team plays in attack and defense and whether there’s a clear identity beyond the scoreline.

The president also commented on the depth of the squad and the defensive structure, noting the presence of players who sometimes drift between defensive lines, a tendency he described as a lack of a coherent attacking plan. He closed by saying Inzaghi has a national reputation in Italy and had reached a recent European final, but his method might not fully align with Al Hilal’s ambitions.

Humor note: In football as in comedy, timing is everything; the whistle blows, but sometimes the punchline comes a few seconds late. Punchline snipers: If football were satire, Inzaghi’s game plan would be a slow-motion montage—great for memes, questionable for titles. And if critiques paid the bills, Sami would own the club by now.