Blue Flags, Red Reactions: Is Inzaghi’s Al Hilal Losing Its Identity?
4 October 2025
Unclear Identity
Under the bright banners of blue leadership and the roar of the stands, an unexpected threat is looming over Italian coach Simone Inzaghi’s tenure with Al Hilal.
Veteran stars have spoken up, raising alarms and directing their arrows at Inzaghi’s approach, which appears markedly different from the club’s long-standing identity.
Across the stands, supporters and pundits debate whether the blueprint Inzaghi is building can harmonize defense and attack in a club famed for its attacking tempo.
Al Hilal today appears without a clearly defined on-field identity; the side coached by Inzaghi, famed for a defensive approach, shows an unstable back line and inconsistent structure, opening gaps for opponents.
By contrast, the attack sometimes flashes with moments of individual brilliance or sudden collective moves, but sustaining a continuous offensive rhythm remains elusive.
This contradiction between defense and offense leaves the team without a clear personality, making it hard for fans and analysts to settle on a single, buildable style.
The result is a squad that seems to chase every game in isolation, with serious questions about Inzaghi’s ability to craft a cohesive project for the future.
Blue Campaign
Meanwhile, the veteran stars have intensified their critique, with former talisman Yasser Al-Qahtani contending that Inzaghi’s philosophy clashes with Al Hilal’s offensive identity.
Al-Qahtani reportedly said: "The coach’s style doesn’t fit the club, which has always leaned into attacking rather than sitting on defense."
Sami Al-Jaber, the club legend and former chairman, echoed the concern: "Inzaghi is drifting away from the team’s traditional training roots."
He also added: "The end-of-match defensive line with six backers was odd; a three-goal cushion should have sealed it."
Abdullah Al-Otaif, a former midfield stalwart and current rival, joined the debate: "I agree with Sami: Inzaghi isn’t a fit because he plays a style entirely different from the club’s."
He concluded: "Inzaghi relies heavily on transitions, massing defensively at times, which doesn’t align with the club’s identity."
Good Results
While facing criticism, the Italian manager’s results have been respectable so far, avoiding defeat in the first seven games of the season.
Al Hilal collected eight points in the first four rounds of the Saudi Pro League, with two wins and two draws, placing them sixth, a point behind several competitors.
In Asia, Inzaghi’s men lead the West Group with six points from wins over Duhail and Nasaf; they also reached the King’s Cup quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Al Adalah.
Looking ahead, the club will face heavyweight fixtures against Al Ettifaq, Al Ittihad and Al Shabab, plus a tough Asian challenge vs Al Sadd; the coming weeks will test whether Inzaghi can craft a coherent project that matches the club’s history.
Until then, the debate rages and the question remains: can a blue-collar system ever truly outshine a blue-blood tradition?
Punchline 1: If Inzaghi’s plan were a sniper, it would be aiming, delivering great form on paper, and still missing the target in reality.
Punchline 2: Al Hilal’s identity is so under construction that even the blueprints ask for a coffee break and a consultation with the tactics department.
