Defensive redraw: Conceicao bets on a rising star to shield Ittihad against Sharjah

Replacement for Danilo Pereira

Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição has settled on the defender who will replace his compatriot Danilo Pereira for the upcoming clash with Sharjah in the Elite Asian Champions League.

The Ittihad host Sharjah on Tuesday at the Al Enma Stadium, in the fourth round of the group stage of the Elite Asian Champions League.

Replacement for Danilo Pereira

The Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadhia reports that Conceição will rely on Serbian defender Yan Carlo Simitch to anchor the defense and fill the void left by Danilo Pereira.

Simitch was sent off in the 4-1 win over Al-Shorta in October, in the third round of the group stage.

The coach could switch to a three-man back line, with Simitch alongside Saad Al Мousa and Mohammed Bernawi, with final decisions after Monday’s main training.

Return of Mamadou Doumbia

Meanwhile, midfielder Mamadou Doumbia will return to action after Conceição left him out of the 4-4 draw with Al-Khaleej in the seventh round.

Impact of the absence

Danilo Pereira’s absence is set to be felt, given his physical solidity and ability to read the game, which has helped balance defense and attack under continuous pressure from opponents.

Danilo brings years of experience with Porto and Paris Saint-Germain, establishing a captain-like presence on the pitch and guiding teammates while organizing the back line.

He can calmly initiate plays from the back, offering additional build-up options for the team.

His presence has reduced individual errors that have cost the team in previous seasons, thanks to smart positioning and timely ball interceptions.

He also holds a clear edge in aerial duels, both defensively and on attacking set-pieces, adding extra strength in these phases.

While the team still seeks consistency, Danilo’s performances have made him a core pillar of the defensive plans the coaching staff uses.

Emirati hurdle

The absence of Danilo makes the Emirati test even tougher, given Sharjah’s history of posing problems for Ittihad in the Asian campaign.

Ittihad began their Asian campaign with a loss at Al Wahda, and a defeat at Shabab Al-Ahli, while Sharjah sits sixth in the Western group with 4 points after beating Al-Gharafa 4-3 and drawing with Al-Sadd 1-1.

Sharjah arrived on the back of a 0-5 thrashing by Tractor in the third round, and will travel to Jeddah hoping to rebound against Ittihad.

Promising replacement

Simititch is regarded with high hopes by Ittihad fans and is seen as a promising talent capable of carrying the team forward in coming years.

The Serbian joined from Anderlecht last summer and is registered as a under-21 player.

Born on May 2, 2005, he began his professional journey in Germany’s youth setups, later moved to Milan, then Anderlecht, before joining Ittihad.

Since arriving at the Enma Stadium, Simitch has appeared in five matches, without a goal or assist, but he is praised for his versatility across multiple positions.

That versatility makes him an attractive option for coaches in a squad chasing stability and progress.

Punchlines

If defense is a sentence, Simitch is the verdict—short, sharp, and with the ball never escaping the court. Punchline two: Conceição spins up a new defense like a barista in a coffee shop—strong, bold, and always with a clean sheet to sip on.