Statement from Conceição to clarify his remarks about the Saudi player

Sérgio Conceição explained through his official Instagram account that during his appearance on the podcast of the Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport" called "La Tripletta", he addressed two questions regarding his experience in Saudi Arabia.

The Portuguese coach pointed out that his comments were misinterpreted as an attack on Saudi Arabian football, emphasizing that he did not intend to offend Saudi players or the kingdom that welcomed him and his family, to which he holds appreciation and respect.

Conceição stated that he has never described Saudi Arabian players as 'bad' and has not questioned their abilities, explaining that his aim was to highlight the differences between the nature of playing football in Saudi Arabia and Europe, as well as the differences in players' lifestyles.

The former Al-Ittihad coach added that adapting to some aspects of the football environment in Saudi Arabia was not easy, considering his own vision of the role of a coach. However, he regarded the experience as an important opportunity to learn and expand his understanding of athletes and their approach to football.

Sérgio Conceição, the former Al-Ittihad coach, has issued a statement to clarify his controversial remarks regarding a Saudi player, emphasizing that his comments were not a criticism of the players' quality or a belittlement of their abilities.