Why Al-Ahli's New Signing Hasn’t Hit the Pitch Yet — Jaissle Explains
18 January 2026
The secret behind Ricardo Matias's absence from Al-Ahli.
Team strategy and Matias’ absence
The German coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed Al-Ahli’s aim to win their upcoming match against Al-Qadsiah, scheduled for Tuesday in Round 17 of the Saudi Pro League.
Jaissle noted at the day’s press conference that the team will play at home and is determined to keep winning.
On the club's technical needs, he said that wishing alone won’t suffice and that while he hopes for new signings, they must work with what’s available.
He also addressed refereeing, mentioning that there have been situations where red cards were undeserved for his players.
Hosawi received praise as well, with Jaissle saying the training work done with the player has helped him deliver strong performances.
Regarding the absence of Ricardo Matias, the new foreign arrival, the coach explained that the player wasn’t ready before arriving and that foreign-player slots are limited, so he remains hopeful for ready options.
Al-Ahli Jeddah has signed Brazilian Ricardo Matheus, a young striker from Internacional, to bolster the Reds’ attack in the coming period.
Al-Ahli’s most recent result was a 1-0 victory over Al-Kholoud, which lifted the team to third place in the Roshen standings with 34 points.
