Derby Mastery: Jaissle’s Al-Ahli Crown the Classic, Seizing the Lead

Derby Triumph and Title Contention

German coach Matthias Jaissle of Al-Ahli Jeddah delivered striking remarks after sealing the derby win over Al-Ittihad, a 3-1 result in the 25th round of the Roshn Pro League.

With the victory, Al-Ahli moved to 62 points to temporarily reclaim the top spot, edging one point ahead of second-placed Al-Nassr, while awaiting the outcome of the latter’s match against Neom; Al-Ittihad stayed on 42 points in mid-table.

Jaissle spoke at the post-match press conference: "It was a standout match in every respect, and the atmosphere inside the stadium was fantastic. I’m proud of what the team produced against a strong rival, as we dominated the game for 90 minutes, and I’m happy with the players’ performance given the tight schedule lately."

He added: "Hard work in every training session is our main path to titles; positive results reflect that effort, and fan support plays a major role in motivating us, both on and off the pitch, influencing the team’s spirit and fighting attitude."

He continued: "We miss Merih Demiral in the squad and know we will play many games without him, but I’m proud of the significant progress shown by Saudi defenders in the squad."

He concluded: "Our goal is to develop players like Mohammed Bakr and Rayan Hamid, and I expect the Saudi national team to be proud of these domestic talents’ results."

He finished: "The key in the Jeddah Derby was the victory itself; the result matters most, while the league remains a long marathon with many big fixtures to decide the title race."

Humor Sniper, Take 1: That finish was so precise, even my GPS couldn’t miss. Humor Sniper, Take 2: If defending like this were a crime, they’d be guilty of high-level restraint and impeccable timing.