The Al-Ittihad team faced significant difficulty in the Jeddah derby against their neighbor Al-Ahli, which ended with a narrow victory for the latter by a single goal. The match was characterized by few chances and solid defensive performances from both sides.

The Portuguese coach Ghassan Kونسيساو expressed his frustration after the match, noting that the game did not go as he had planned, and that the lack of spirit and drive among the players was the decisive factor in the team's failure to capitalize on opportunities.

Consisao explained that he relied on the speedy winger Roger instead of Dombia to handle the open spaces, but the tactics of Al Ahly's coach Matthias Jaissle effectively closed those spaces, turning the match into a tactical battle in which the German outperformed the Portuguese.

The coach placed part of the responsibility on the players, stating that the team was technically prepared, but lacked the derby mentality, which was reflected in their performance. Meanwhile, the team has dropped to eighth place, 13 points behind the leaders, Al-Nassr.

Inside the dressing room, Dutch star Bergwijn is facing a difficult situation, as he has not participated since Conceição's arrival, despite being physically fit. This reflects differing perspectives within the team and complicates the task of restoring both technical and psychological stability.

The stands witnessed the presence of around 45,000 fans, which is less than the capacity of Al-Jawhara Stadium, amid a ticket crisis that affected the sale of ten thousand tickets. Meanwhile, Conceição is looking to take advantage of the current break to recalibrate the team's rhythm and regain their competitive spirit before the matches resume.

The union will resume training next Thursday in preparation for important matches, including the domestic league, the AFC Champions League, and the King's Cup. The break is seen as an opportunity to rebuild trust between the players and the coaching staff before facing upcoming challenges.