RIYADH: The new Roshn Saudi League season begins this week with three of the country’s biggest clubs preparing for what promises to be the most competitive campaign yet.
Reigning champions Al-Ittihad open their title defense on Saturday away to Al-Akhdoud, but coach Laurent Blanc has warned that the challenge of repeating last year’s domestic double will be even tougher.
“We feel very good about starting a new season, especially after the success of the previous one,” Blanc said.
“From the first day of pre-season, I told my players that the 2025–26 season would be much more difficult than 2024–25. Why? Because all our opponents will want to beat us. And that’s normal. Just as last year we wanted to beat everyone, this year we are the team to beat.
“That’s something we have to accept. We must prepare well, individually and collectively, and the preparation has gone very well. If we are not ready mentally to face these opponents, the season will be complicated. So we have to prepare properly and be ready,” he added.
Blanc, who was named Coach of the Year after his debut campaign in Jeddah, stressed that personal accolades mean little compared to collective success.
“Personal success doesn’t interest me at all. I love football because it’s a team sport,” he said.
“Last year was wonderful because we shared it with the fans, with the players, with everyone in the club. That’s why I love sport; to share, not to stand alone and win for myself. That doesn’t interest me. I like to share, and I hope we can share even more this season.”
Al-Ahli confident of building on continental triumph
City rivals Al-Ahli also enter the season with high expectations after lifting the AFC Champions League Elite in May and following up
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