Conceicao: I Don’t Sugarcoat Players — Derby Focus Beats Sharjah
Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao praised Al-Ittihad's 3-0 win over Sharjah in the AFC Champions League Elite, highlighting a growing, cohesive team. He noted the tight schedule and limited prep time ahead of the Jeddah derby with Al-Ahli. Conceicao stressed not flattering players and emphasized discipline and execution, pointing to Doumbia's contribution and the squad's collective improvement. He hinted at potential December friendlies to fine-tune the group during the November international window. This result marks Al-Ittihad's second ACL Elite victory under Conceicao.