Al Hilal manager Ramon Diaz thanked his players for their “champion personality and huge effort” despite the heartbreak of losing the Asian Champions League final on Saturday.
The holders, bidding to secure the trophy for a record-extending fifth time, were beaten 1-0 in the second leg against Urawa Red Diamonds, with the Japanese club taking the title 2-1 on aggregate.
Midfielder Andre Carillo’s own goal at Saitama Stadium decided the tie – last week’s first leg in Riyadh finished 1-1 - with Hilal runners-up in the tournament for the fourth time in nine years.
Seeking a third Champions League crown in the past four editions, the Saudi Arabian side had the majority of the chances on Saturday, but were ultimately left to rue Carillo’s decisive touch four minutes into the second half.
“The team played very well, represented Al Hilal with a very, very high performance,” Diaz told reporters afterwards. “They showed their champion personality, but we created a lot of chances and couldn’t translate any into a goal.
“That’s why I wanted to thank the players for the huge effort they did up until here.”
Diaz, Hilal manager when they were beaten by Urawa in the 2017 final, attributed the defeat in part to last week’s draw in the first leg in the Saudi capital.
Then, Hilal squandered a 1-0 lead, while they also lost captain Salman Al Faraj to injury and goalscorer Salem Al Dawsari to a late red card. The Saudi winger was thus suspended for the return fixture.
In Saitama, Hilal striker Odion Ighalo had a shot cleared off the line early on, with Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa making numerous saves – most notably from Ighalo in the final minute.
Saudi champions Hilal, fourth in the domestic league with four rounds remaining and
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