Houssem Aouar Fires Up Al-Ittihad: Ready for Sharjah in the Elite ACL Showdown

Team News and the Big Night in Jeddah

Al-Ittihad’s Algerian star Houssem Aouar has affirmed that the squad is ready for Tuesday’s encounter with Sharjah in the Elite AFC Champions League, West Group action. The match is scheduled to take place at a Jeddah venue, with the home crowd hoping to spur the hosts to a crucial win in the fourth round of the West zone.

During a pre-match press conference held on the eve of the game, Aouar stressed that his team are fully prepared for the Sharjah test, noting that the encounter will be played in front of their supporters at the team’s usual fortress.

The Algerian midfielder also voiced his frustration at the number of red cards his teammates have picked up this season, saying such disciplinary issues can derail an entire campaign.

“These cards affect the team during matches, and some of them were undeserved,” he said. “The game is important for us, and we are ready. We want to win to keep our hopes alive in the title race.”

The match details were highlighted in the context of the broader competition, with explanations of the Western group standings and what a win would mean for Al-Ittihad’s trajectory in the Elite ACL.

Standings, Kits, and the Fabinho Red Card Debate

As part of the broader narrative, it was noted that Al-Ittihad sit seventh in the Western standings after beating the Iraqi Police and suffering defeats to Al Wahda and Shabab Al-Ahli. Sharjah, meanwhile, sit sixth with four points, having beaten Al-Gharafa 4-3, drawn with Al-Sadd 1-1, and then absorbed a heavy loss to Tractor of Iran.

In another note, a Saudi newspaper reported that Al-Ittihad would wear their home kit for the visit of Sharjah on the fourth Western round clash, with Sharjah donning a white kit. The piece also touched on tactical visuals and the role of kit choices in big midweek fixtures.

The controversy around Fabinho’s red card in the Gulf derby against Al-Ghath was also revisited. Al-Ittihad’s spokesman, Riyad Al-Mazhar, confirmed the club’s objections to the red card, insisting the decision was not just and calling for transparent evaluation by the match officials and VAR communications.

“We’ve asked the Federation and refereeing committee to listen to what happened between the VAR room and the on-field referee to ensure clarity and fairness,” Al-Mazhar said. He also argued for a reassessment of the punishment and cited the broader need for a referee lineup that upholds competitive balance.

Additionally, the club floated a schedule adjustment proposal for the derby against Al-Ahli, suggesting a 4:45 PM kickoff after Friday prayers at a venue removed from dense residential areas to potentially boost attendance and fairness in opportunity.

In a broader context, Al-Ittihad noted that their concerns also included the possibility of foreign referees, recalling prior instances when international officials were used, and underscoring the cost considerations attached to such arrangements.

Back in the Fold: Squad News and Training!

Head coach Sérgio Conceição welcomed back defender Hassan Kadch and winger Abdulrahman Al-Aboud to full team training on Sunday after recovery from injuries. With the exception of Ahmed Shraheili, the rest of the squad for Al-Ittihad’s clash with Sharjah was back in form, in line with the coach’s expectations for a strong Western Group campaign.

The training session also saw Kadch and Al-Aboud join teammates Karim Benzema, Mohamed Doumbia, and Yan Karlo Simic as part of the group, reinforcing midfield and defensive options ahead of the Tuesday fixture in Jeddah.

As the team prepares for this high-stakes test, the camp remains focused on maximizing cohesion and exploiting Sharjah’s recent results, aiming to secure a win that could propel them toward the later stages of the Elite ACL.

In sum, Al-Ittihad’s readiness, disciplined approach, and renewed depth could shape a pivotal result in the West Group, with Aouar steering the on-pold drive and the defense aiming to tighten up under pressure.

Punchline moment: If football ever needed a pep talk, it’s when the ball says, “I’m just going to roll until someone notices me.”

Punchline moment: And if your defense was a playlist, it would be on shuffle—mixing old favorites with new disasters; cue the whistle to start the remix!