Donis: Al-Ahmar's Attacking Development and Player Rotation Are Natural

Saudi national team coach Giorgos Donis confirmed that the team has improved offensively and emphasized the importance of having a large pool of players ready to participate, noting that the match schedule at the 27th Gulf Cup of Nations (Gulf 27) necessitates rotating players.

Donis said at a press conference following Saudi Arabia’s 3-0 victory over Oman that playing every three days makes player rotation a natural necessity, especially given varying levels of physical readiness and the risk of injuries. He added, “If we want to have a distinguished national team, we must have more than 11 players ready.”

Donis clarified that the technical staff works to support all players, providing tactical and mental guidance, and stressed that he does not favor targeting a specific player or burdening them with responsibility for performance or results, as all players are important to him. He added that the priority within the team is to continue developing and building confidence in their abilities.

Regarding the match against Oman, Donis said the Saudi team delivered an outstanding performance in the first half in terms of positioning and collective pressing when losing possession, as well as waiting for the right moment to score. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance in the second half.

He added that the team faced some injuries during the match, including the departure of Alaa Al-Hajji, who had delivered an impressive performance. Donis noted that Oman created some chances in the second half and urged his players to maintain consistent performance until the final minute.

Donis affirmed that the Saudi team demonstrated significant offensive improvement during the match, stressing the need to continue working and enhancing player performance in the coming stages.