Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly praised the support and confidence given to him by Italian coach Simone Inzaghi, confirming that this confidence was the main reason behind the noticeable improvement in his performance this season.

Koulibaly's statements came after Al Hilal's victory over Qatari team Al Sadd with a score of 3-1 in the third round of the AFC Champions League, in a match held at the Kingdom Arena in the capital, Riyadh.

Koulibaly explained that the match was not easy, noting that the team delivered a strong performance, especially in the first half, which saw two goals that gave Al Hilal a comfortable advantage before completing the match with strong defensive stability.

The Al Hilal defender pointed out that his technical improvement compared to last season is due to the way Inzaghi interacts with the players, explaining that the Italian coach knows well how to instill confidence in the team and motivate them to achieve victories.

The Senegalese star added: "Inzaghi has dealt with us intelligently since taking charge after the Club World Cup, giving us a strong boost both technically and morally, and I personally hold him in high regard."

Koulibaly is having an outstanding season with Al Hilal, having participated in 13 matches across various competitions, during which he managed to score two goals and provide two assists, making him one of the key defensive pillars in the blue team's lineup.