Al-Hilal claim victory over Al-Fayha but questions remain amid apparent lack of cohesion

RIYADH: As Saudi football continued to digest Wednesday’s news that the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, was officially acquiring the remaining ownership stakes in the league’s “big four” clubs, the fans of one of them, Al-Hilal, had other things on their minds on Thursday: the team’s form heading into their third match in six days.

While Simone Inzaghi was one of the few head coaches in the Saudi Pro League granted the trust to continue in his position for a second season, his team has done little so far this season to inspire supporters.

It truly is a striking concern. After all, this is the man who took Al-Hilal to a FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final in his first month on the job, a run that included a draw with Real Madrid and a victory over Manchester City.

He is also the man who secured the King Cup last season, finished second in the league after pushing champions Al-Nassr all the way to the last day, and was eliminated from the AFC Champions League Elite only on penalties.

He also boasts a stunning record of just one defeat in 55 matches.

A head coach at any other club in a similar position would would have no concerns about the security of his job. However, the environment at Al-Hilal has always been different from any other club. Jorge Jesus, for example, was sacked in 2019, midway through his first stint at the club, despite being top of the table.

That is not to say Inzaghi is under pressure just yet. Though concerns have mounted among fans, it is far too early in the season, even by SPL standards, to speculate that he might be dismissed, especially after three straight wins.

Granted, those victories were against teams of significantly lower quality: newly promoted