Al-Khatib: The 'White' vs 'Green' clash was beautiful for everyone

Mubarak Al-Khalidi - Yahya Hameidan: Firas Al-Khatib, the head coach of Al-Kuwait Club, expressed his dissatisfaction with the 3-3 draw against Al-Arabi in the opening round of the Zain Premier League, as his team equalized in the decisive moments of the match.

Al-Khatib stated that the match against “Al-Akhdar” (The Green) was enjoyable for everyone, with both teams delivering a strong performance and showing a clear desire to win, which made the encounter highly attacking and open. He noted that the next phase requires correcting some mistakes that emerged during the clash with Al-Arabi.

Al-Khatib said, “At the start of the journey against a champion and major team like Al-Arabi, anything can happen, and the point earned from the draw seems acceptable. However, I am not satisfied with the performance, and we hope to deliver our best in upcoming matches.”

He added that Al-Kuwait’s (“Al-Abyad” – The White) next match against Al-Qadsia on Monday in the second round of the Zain Premier League will certainly be difficult, as they will face another champion and prominent team. Nevertheless, all matches are challenging for us, and we must prepare for them optimally.

Regarding his appointment as Al-Kuwait’s coach just one week before the start of the new season, Al-Khatib affirmed that coaching a club of Al-Kuwait’s stature is a dream for every coach, and the task is certainly not easy. He expressed hope that he would rise to the occasion and meet the responsibilities of the role.

For his part, Al-Arabi’s Croatian coach, Goran Sablic, said that Al-Kuwait is very strong, and his team prepared for the encounter in the best possible way. He emphasized that in their first league match, they proved they are capable of facing any opponent. Sablic noted that “Al-Akhdar” appeared slightly better than “Al-Abyad,” and they deserved more, but some mistakes cost them the victory.

Sablic explained that it is difficult for any team to face a strong side like Al-Kuwait in the opening round, and the match was akin to a major challenge. He expressed great appreciation for Al-Arabi’s players for their performance but stressed the need for greater seriousness and composure in certain situations, particularly in the final minutes.