Dubai Reveal: Conceicao Rebuilds Al-Ittihad's Backline in Pre-Season Camp
15 December 2025
Dubai Camp Sparks a Defensive Makeover
It seems that the Portuguese Sergio Conceicao, head coach of Al-Ittihad, has succeeded in restoring the team's back line during the latest Dubai training camp.
The Union played two friendly games in Dubai, beating Pal City and Gulf United UAE by 6-0 and 5-0 respectively.
New Center-Back Duo Emerges
In the camp, a new face in the defense emerged, as Conceicao relied on the Portuguese duo Danilo Pereira and Fabinho as the first-choice centre-backs.
Only two months after joining the squad, he uncovered this pairing as the most solid partnership, providing balance to the back line and underscoring their importance in the defensive system, proving Conceicao can read players' strengths quickly and use them to the fullest before the season kicks off.
Last season's run of defensive lapses, before the break, left Al-Ittihad vulnerable as they hunted for a reliable centre-back pair to secure danger zones and help build and distribute from the back.
But the coming period is likely to feature the Portuguese manager relying on Pereira and Fabinho to mend the back line and ensure the ball leaves in the best possible manner.
