The Mystery of Quinones' Absence: Real Injury or Tactical Decision?

Questions have increased within Al-Qadisiyah after it became likely that Mexican striker Julian Quinones will miss the upcoming league and King’s Cup matches against Al-Ahli due to an ankle injury that threatens his availability before the upcoming break.

The two matches will be held in Jeddah within one week, at a time when the coaching staff is working to solidify the team's readiness before a break that will last until the Saudi national team's participation in the Arab Cup scheduled in Qatar.

Keenanis's return may be postponed until the match against Al-Ettifaq in the tenth round of the Saudi Professional League, scheduled for December 19, despite the significant progress in his treatment program since his injury against Al-Hazem.

Spanish coach Michel González is keen not to rush the player's participation, preferring to be completely sure of his recovery, especially after Al-Taawoun's loss and the emergence of promising alternatives, most notably Retigui, who delivered an impressive performance against Al-Kholood.

The possibility of calling up Kainunis for Al-Ahli's match in the King’s Cup quarterfinal remains open, provided that the league match confirms the team's ability to improve offensively and Qadsia's need to strengthen their attacking power in the tournament.

Gonzalez preferred to limit the team to daily training sessions during the break, as many players were absent due to joining their national teams during the FIFA international days, including Musab Al-Jawair, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Retigui, Nandez, and Ponsoba.

Al-Qadisiyah appeared stronger in the absence of Kenones, with Retighi shining noticeably, reigniting the debate over the competition between the two, especially after the penalty kick incident against Al-Hazm, a situation that upset the coach.

The player's absence from the match lineup since that incident has increased the likelihood of an administrative penalty in addition to the injury, despite no official confirmation being issued, leaving the door open for speculation.

The Qadsia preparation program is expected to be announced during the break, with the likelihood of no overseas training camp. The focus will be on improving the team's position in the league and trying to surpass last season's achievement by reaching continental spots.

The club management is considering recalling the Spanish player Miguel Carvalho from his loan at Al-Hazem during the winter transfer window, especially after he was called up to his country's under-23 national team, which reflects his technical value and the need for his services in the upcoming period.