‘Al-Ittihad fans will be influential against Al-Qadsiah' in King Cup final, says Laurent Blanc
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad head coach Laurent Blanc confirmed the team's full readiness, predicting that Al-Ittihad fans will be influential against Al-Qadsiah when they meet on Friday in the King Cup final at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah.
Blanc spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of the King Cup final, saying: 'Al-Qadsiah are a strong rival, and I know how dangerous they are. Of course, they have ambitions to win the title. They have distinguished players, and they have speed, but my team are fully prepared for this match and will be ready to fight, enjoy and win.
'Al-Ittihad fans in Jeddah are important for the team. We must focus mentally.
'I am proud of the players after they had an exceptional season, and tomorrow our team will be ready to fight for victory. I have 22 players ready for the match, I know my team well, and I am happy with the players' readiness.'
His countryman Karim Benzema, the captain of Al-Ittihad, explained that Al-Qadsiah have good players and a good coach, but playing the match in Jeddah will be in their favor.
He said: 'Al-Qadsiah have a good coach and players, but we have full confidence in tomorrow's match. As everyone knows, finals are won, not played. Today, we have a final training session in preparation for the final. This season, we were able to win against all teams, and tomorrow we have the home advantage and the fans.
'So, it's job done in the Saudi Pro League, fantastic, and we're happy to win the title. But tomorrow is a different game, a final, and we want to win at any cost.'
On the other side, Al-Qadsiah's head coach, Michel Gonzalez, expressed his happiness to play in the King Cup final against Al-Ittihad, on Friday, at the end of the sports season.
'I am very happy with what we have achieved by reaching this great final, thanks to the players' efforts,' Gonzalez said on Thursday during a press conference in Jeddah.
'We were able to secure an advanced position in the Saudi Pro League, in addition to qualifying for the final match of the King Cup.
'We had a real and strong desire to perform well since the beginning of the season, and all the club's fans are happy with what the team have achieved. Everyone knows that we have performed at a high level this season … On the final night, we will face a very strong team, which recently won the Saudi Pro League.
'I promise the fans to do everything we can to beat Al-Ittihad for the first time this season and win the Cup title.'
Al-Qadsiah's defender Nacho Fernandez expressed his confidence in his team's ability to win the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup title against Al-Ittihad in the final match.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
42 minutes ago
- Arab News
Nour Al-Fliti looking to hand Hattan Alsaif first MMA loss
RIYADH: One of Saudi Arabia's biggest mixed martial arts stars, Hattan Alsaif, will make her highly anticipated return to the Professional Fighters League SmartCage at PFL MENA 2 in Riyadh on July 4. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport And while all eyes will be on the hometown hero, who is aiming for her third straight amateur MMA win, a rising star from Lebanon is preparing to step into enemy territory and hoping to steal the spotlight. Standing across from Alsaif will be Nour Al-Fliti, a multiple Lebanese MMA champion and International Mixed Martial Arts Federation Asian Championship silver medalist who currently holds a 1-1 amateur record. Before MMA, however, Al-Fliti lived a completely different life. 'Before MMA, I worked in the hospitality field as an operations manager,' she revealed. 'I studied that field and I worked in it since 2019. I enjoyed it, but I felt that something was missing. If I hadn't found MMA, I think I'd still be searching for that something to ignite the fire in me.' With MMA, Al-Fliti discovered the outlet she had been searching for. Judging by her growing list of accomplishments, it has been a successful transition. 'I got into MMA because I felt a powerful energy inside me — it was something I needed to express,' Al-Fliti said. 'I've always had a fighter's spirit, but I didn't know where it belonged until I stepped into the cage.' MMA provided more than just competition, she added: 'From my very first fight, I felt a deep connection. It wasn't just about competition … it was about purpose. That moment made me realize this is where I'm meant to be.' Al-Fliti believes her greatest achievement in MMA goes beyond medals and accolades — it is the personal transformation she has undergone. 'My biggest achievement so far is finding myself through this sport,' she explained. 'Every fight, every camp, every challenge has shaped me, not just as a fighter, but as a person. Of course, winning and improving technically are important, but the real win is the growth I've experienced mentally and spiritually.' While she acknowledges the support of her team and loved ones, Al-Fliti is clear about where her ultimate source of strength lies. 'My biggest supporter is Allah first,' she exclaimed. 'I truly believe that my path is written, and I draw strength from that. 'And I'm also deeply grateful to my family and my team — the people who believe in me, push me, and never let me forget who I am, even during the toughest moments.' On paper, it may seem like Al-Fliti has the odds stacked against her. Alsaif has more experience and will be fighting in front of a home crowd. Al-Fliti, however, doesn't see it that way. 'Hattan is a determined fighter with her own style, and I respect anyone who steps into the cage, but I never see myself as the underdog,' she said. 'I trust in my preparation, in my skills and, most importantly, in my belief in myself and in Allah. I've prepared with focus, discipline and a clear mindset.' On July 4, Al-Fliti does not plan to simply walk into the SmartCage — she will make her presence felt: 'I'm not just showing up — I'm coming to make a statement, inshallah.' Tickets for PFL MENA 2 can be purchased at
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Mastantuono's Move to Real Madrid Was Premature, Says River Boss Gallardo
Franco Mastantuono's transfer to Real Madrid came too soon, while the 17-year-old was still developing and pivotal to River Plate's future, said coach Marcelo Gallardo ahead of the Argentine team's Club World Cup match against Monterrey. Gallardo acknowledged Mastantuono's departure will leave a void in his squad after the Spanish giants completed a deal worth around $45 million with River for the teenager earlier this month. For the Argentine manager, the midfielder still needed more time to grow at the club, but he acknowledged the early transfer as an understandable part of modern football. "It's natural, we train players for the world. Everything is happening earlier, young players are leaving faster, and I understand that those are the rules of the game," Gallardo told ESPN on Friday. "Our sporting project for the year was with him. We have to readjust, because there are players who, by their nature, are difficult to replace. "We knew that Mastantuono was going to leave at some point, but fans don't enjoy it that way. The market dictates the timing." Gallardo said he's urging Mastantuono to stay focused on the tournament despite the noise around his move. "All I want is for him to play naturally, to try to forget about everything that's going on, which is very difficult," he said. "I don't talk to him about where he's going to live or anything like that. I want him to play, which is what he knows how to do." River began their Club World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, a result Gallardo described as key to easing early nerves. "We are happy to be able to be in a competition like this, a new one," he said. "I'm excited about how it's going, it was essential to start with a win and get over the nerves. "Now we're preparing for the match in Monterrey, which is a different level of difficulty." Following Saturday's game against the Mexican team in Pasadena, River will face Champions League runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Promotional tour for Alvarez and Crawford's ‘Fight of the Century' gets underway in Riyadh
RIYADH: Boxing superstars Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford shared the stage in Riyadh on Friday at the start of a promotional tour ahead of their highly anticipated bout in Las Vegas on Sept. 13. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The two champions, who will face off for the unified super-middleweight title and a specially crafted Ring Magazine belt valued at $188,000, appeared at a press conference in Boulevard City as part of Riyadh Season. 'My goal is always being in these kinds of fights: big fights,' Alvarez, the reigning undisputed champion with a record of 62 wins, 39 of them by knockout, told Arab News. 'And I'm here again. So I feel grateful and excited.' He added that the sport has developed and progressed in the Kingdom in recent years, adding: 'Turki Alalshikh (chairperson of the General Entertainment Authority) has helped a lot. Right now we have boxing gyms here and they're helping a lot of kids. So that's very nice.' Looking ahead to his showdown with Crawford, the Mexican fighter said: 'I think this fight is going to be one of my best fights in my history, in my record. I'm very excited and motivated. This is what it's all about. I want to make history.' Asked for his thoughts on his opponent, Alvarez said: 'Don't get me wrong, he's a great fighter — but like I said, he's not Canelo. He's one of the top fighters I'm going to face in my career, for sure.' Crawford, an American fighter who holds a record of 41 wins, with 31 knockouts, and is a four-division world champion, said: 'This is my moment and I'm not letting Canelo take it away from me. It's going to be an exciting day for boxing; history will be made.' Alalshikh said the fight marks the beginning of a long-term partnership with Netflix, which will stream the bout to more than 300 million subscribers worldwide. 'We will do big things together and this is the beginning of a great relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the GEA and Netflix,' he added. Asked what he hopes to see from the fighters during their bout, Alalshikh said: 'I'm sure they will deliver for me smashing face and blood.' As for the decision to stage the fight in Las Vegas, he described the city as 'the capital of boxing.' The promotional tour will continue in New York City on June 22 and Las Vegas on June 27.
