Al-Ittihad urged to turn Al Jazira victory into a season of consistency

Al-Ittihad have been given an early warning that their ambitious plans for the new season will require more than one impressive performance after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Kholood in their opening Roshn Saudi League match.

The result came only days after Al-Ittihad secured a convincing 4-0 victory over UAE club Al Jazira in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off, a performance that raised expectations among supporters and appeared to signal a fresh start for the Jeddah side.

Instead, the draw quickly revived familiar concerns. Al-Ittihad have often produced outstanding displays before following them with unexpected setbacks, leaving questions over whether their best performances can become part of a sustained pattern rather than isolated occasions.

It would be premature to reach a final verdict after only one league game. The season is at its earliest stage, and Al-Kholood’s result does not by itself determine whether Al-Ittihad can compete for major honours. However, the contrast between the emphatic win over Al Jazira and the opening-day stumble has made the club’s next steps more significant.

The circumstances of the match must also be considered. Danilo Pereira was sent off, forcing Al-Ittihad to play a substantial part of the contest with 10 men. His dismissal had a direct influence on the match and gave Al-Kholood the opportunity to recover and claim a draw.

Even so, the early evidence suggests that Al-Ittihad still require further strengthening. There appears to be a noticeable gap between the expectations of the supporters and the options currently available to manager Laurent Blanc, with several football experts also pointing to the need for more additions.

Al-Ittihad legend Mohamed Noor has gone beyond simply calling for new signings, highlighting the frustration among the club’s fanbase. He said Al-Ittihad “did not receive the support that would enable it to attract players”, adding that limited financial resources had made the construction of a strong squad more difficult.

That issue is central to the club’s prospects. Restoring their technical level is only part of the challenge; Al-Ittihad must also assemble a squad capable of coping with a long campaign and competing against teams with greater depth. A small group of players may be able to produce a memorable performance, but relying on them throughout the season is unlikely to deliver consistency.

There is still plenty of time to change the picture. Al-Ittihad have played only one league fixture, with dozens more to come, and the squad could yet be altered before the transfer window closes. The circumstances at the start of a season can also be very different from those later in the campaign.

But the opening signals cannot be dismissed. Al-Ittihad need to ensure the 4-0 win against Al Jazira becomes the beginning of genuine progress, rather than a brief high point. They must also show that the draw with Al-Kholood was caused by exceptional circumstances, including the red card, and was not another example of an old cycle in which a major victory is followed by a damaging loss of momentum.

Supporters are not demanding a miracle. They want clear evidence that the team is moving in the right direction: quality reinforcements, technical stability, the ability to maintain performances and a stronger mentality in matches they are expected to control.

Al-Ittihad are not facing a final judgement, but they are already at an important crossroads. They can treat the Al-Kholood draw as a warning and use the Al Jazira victory as a genuine launchpad, or allow the season to follow a familiar pattern in which a result raises hopes before another setback sends the club back to the starting point.