Legend vs. Labyrinth: Jaber fires at Inzaghi as Benzema goes missing in Clasico draw

Aftermath and Key Quotes

Sami Al-Jaber, the legend of Al Hilal and the Saudi national team, takes aim at Italian manager Simone Inzaghi, the leaders' coach, and at Benzema after a 1-1 draw that closed round 23 of the Roshen Pro League.

In remarks on the Saudi show Nadina, Jaber said that if Inzaghi were asked before the game to imagine this scenario, he would not have foreseen the Clasico ending like this, noting the balance tilted toward Al Hilal, even after Hassan Kadsh's red card, though the title-chasing side failed to seize the moment.

He added that Al Hilal's only goal came from a defensive error by the rival defense, and that the team could not open up against Cosinsao's men or reach the final third often enough, despite the stars at the Zaiem's disposal.

He continued: Inzaghi did not manage the match as required and was clearly cautious; his substitutions did not change the game, while Cosinsao showed boldness that shifted the momentum.

He stressed that a big bench advantage favored the leaders, but Cosinsao used his cards better than Inzaghi, who struggled to manage the names in his squad.

Turning to Karim Benzema, he said there are big questions about several players, especially Benzema, who appeared to disappear and surrender to the markings of Al Ittihad's defense.

He added that the Al Ittihad clash is a red flag ahead of several marquee challenges in the league and in Asia, and that many upcoming fixtures must be won given the tough competition on all fronts.

He also praised the opponent's coach, saying Cosinsao did a heroic job with the team, altering the approach after a season and a half under Laurent Blanc, who relied on transitions with several players including Benzema, Stieven Pergoine and Ngolo Kanté and Déabi.

Finally, he concluded that, at present, Al Ittihad plays as a single block with a different style offering a range of solutions.

Regarding Benzema specifically, he noted a big question mark over some players and claimed Benzema had vanished under the close marking of the defense, though the overall match remains a milestone in a challenging season.

Punchlines to keep things spicy: If football were a bakery, Benzema would be the glaze—nice to look at, but you still wonder where the bite went. And if Inzaghi drew up a game plan, Cosinsao just swapped the map for a treasure hunt and found the treasure called “wins.”