Jens Wissing says ‘huge support’ made Al Ittihad move an easy decision

German coach Jens Wissing has revealed that the “huge support” he felt around Al Ittihad convinced him to take charge of the Saudi Pro League club – and says he is already “very satisfied” after his first match in the dugout.

The 41-year-old made the remarks after overseeing a 3-2 victory over South Africa’s Orlando Pirates in Al Ittihad’s opening pre-season friendly at their training camp in Marbella, Spain.

“It was easy to join, because we got a lot of support and help from all the people around the team, so it was very easy for us,” Wissing told Al Ittihad’s official YouTube channel.

“We feel very, very good to be with this team. It’s a very, very good group. I feel very positive energy, the last two weeks were very, very good.”

The German, who has signed a two-year contract running to 2028, replaces Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, who was dismissed at the end of a trophyless campaign last season.

Positive start in Marbella

Al Ittihad began their overseas camp with a narrow but encouraging win against Orlando Pirates, as Wissing took charge of the side for the first time.

“The first match was very, very good for us,” he said. “Of course not everything is perfect, and it cannot be, but there are already a lot of positives.”

The Jeddah club are looking to reset after a disappointing season in which they failed to win any silverware despite heavy investment and high expectations.

Wissing’s first outing offered early signs of improvement, with his side scoring three times and showing glimpses of the attacking football the club’s hierarchy are hoping he will implement.

Intensive training and ‘big step forward’

Wissing stressed that the work done on the training pitch in Spain has already begun to translate into performances.

“We had already a lot of very, very good training sessions,” he explained. “The players are improving a lot, and I already see a big step forward.”

He praised the squad’s response to his ideas and methods, highlighting their willingness to absorb tactical instructions and implement them at match tempo.

“The players are trying to apply things in a practical way, whether what we talk about or what we do in training, so I can now say that I am satisfied,” he added.

Rebuilding after a failed title push

Al Ittihad, one of Saudi Arabia’s most decorated and widely followed clubs, endured a frustrating 2023-24 season, falling short in the league, domestic cups and continental competition.

The failure to secure any titles ultimately cost Conceicao his job, with the club’s board turning to Wissing as part of a broader restructuring aimed at restoring the team to the top of Saudi and Asian football.

Wissing’s emphasis on “positive energy” and a “very, very good group” is likely to be welcomed by supporters who watched a disjointed and inconsistent side last season.

High expectations as new era begins

With major Saudi Pro League rivals continuing to strengthen, expectations on Wissing will be intense from the outset of the new campaign.

The German coach, however, believes the foundations are already being laid during the Marbella camp through hard work and unity.

If the early signs – a winning start, improved training levels and a squad eager to adapt – can be sustained, Al Ittihad fans will hope that the club’s new era under Wissing ends very differently from the last, and that last season’s barren spell proves an exception rather than the beginning of a decline.