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Conceição Slams Damac's Time-Wasting Tactics After Al-Ittihad's 1-1 Draw

14 January 2026

Conceição Slams Damac's Time-Wasting Tactics After Al-Ittihad's 1-1 Draw
Sérgio Conceição reacts after Al-Ittihad’s 1-1 draw with Damac in the Saudi Pro League.

Coaching Firing Lines After a 1-1 Draw

Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, head coach of Al-Ittihad, expressed strong frustration with the approach taken by Damac in the 1-1 draw during Round 15 of the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Ittihad moved to 27 points in sixth place, ending a five-match winning streak with this result.

Conceição told reporters after the match: "Damac played in a way I have never seen in my life; if I were the referee, I would have controlled the match."

"I've coached in many places, but I hardly saw this situation; Damac's coach admitted to intentionally wasting time."

He added: "The hard-working player will stay; I want the player who gives his best for the team."

He admitted dissatisfaction with the performance: "We lacked aggression, especially in the first half, made some mistakes, and we must correct them."

Conceição concluded: "I don't want to talk about transfers; we must focus on the current squad and recover the dropped points ahead."

Punchline 1: Time-wasting? Damac turned the clock into a sculpture—modern football, indeed.

Punchline 2: And Conceição's post-match? That was so sharp, it could slice through the highlight reel.

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Michael Whooosh

I am Michael Whooosh, an English sports journalist born in 1986. Passionate about surfing, poetry, and beekeeping, I share my human and sensitive view of sports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the draw to end level?

Damac's time-wasting approach disrupted the tempo and denied Al-Ittihad clear chances.

What did Conceição say about Damac's tactics?

He said he had never seen such a tactic and that the referee would have controlled the match.

Did Conceição discuss transfers after the match?

He said focus should be on the current squad and not on the transfer window.