Mancini expecting ‘tough match’ against Jordan

RIYADH: Saudi coach Roberto Mancini said that he is expecting a ‘tough match’ against Jordan in Amman.

“We are looking forward to playing a good game, and we know that the Jordanian team is a strong team, so I expect it to be a tough match,” said Mancini ahead of the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.

When asked about the reason for the national team’s delayed arrival in Amman, he replied, “It’s not too much confidence. It is normal for us to arrive the night before the match. We trained well in Al-Ahsa, and we respect the Jordanian team and all the other teams.”

Regarding the future of the Green Falcons in the Asian Cup, he said, “Our focus now is to think about tomorrow’s match, and we have a long time to think about the Asian Cup after the game.”

When asked about guaranteeing qualification, he said, “In the world of football, there is no such thing as a guarantee. We will only guarantee qualification when we play well and earn the points in the match.”

Regarding the Green Falcon selection that lined out against Pakistan, he said, “I chose the best players, and we played against Pakistan with respect in order to win the three points.”