Derby Fury: Conceicao Blasts Journalist, Targets Al Ahli and the Ref in Jeddah
7 March 2026
Derby Drama: Conceicao's Post-Match Outburst
Portuguese manager Sergio Conceicao, head coach of Al Ittihad, erupted in anger during the post-match press conference after the Jeddah derby against arch-rivals Al Ahli.
Al Ittihad were beaten 1-3 by Al Ahli on Friday at the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah, in the 25th round of the Roshn Saudi Pro League.
After the match, Conceicao snapped at a journalist who asked about the mental readiness and the spirit of the players during the derby.
“There are things I won't comment on, I don't understand questions like that,” he replied, before saying the team had shown high effort and spirit in many moments.
He added that in some moments Al Ahli were better because of their mistakes; the match was evenly contested in many moments, then you ask about spirit? The players performed with strong determination in numerous moments of the encounter.
Conceicao then criticized the referee, noting that they faced a team that has played together for a long time, while his own lineup has seen changes.
“Why don't you talk about the officiating? I think the Saudi referee was better; a penalty decision today might not have required VAR had there not been pressure,” he argued.
The coach then directed his critique at Al Ahli as well, saying they can unsettle opponents by exploiting moments of doubt, and that the derby trap caught them off guard at times.
He conceded some moments allowed them to play their style, while others forced a retreat to preserve discipline and shape.
In technical notes, Conceicao described a big clash between two giants, with both sides testing the other's goal, while the details sometimes decided the outcome.
He added that after the restart, Al Ahli shifted their approach, pressed less high, and used longer balls, forcing his team to adjust and stay compact.
In the end, there were passages where their plan worked and others when they needed to reset mentally. A competitive edge remains, but the details mattered more than the scoreboard.
Punchline 1: If questions were goals, Conceicao would be the top scorer in the press room.
Punchline 2: The post-match drama was so spicy that even the microphone needed a timeout after that heat in the room.
