Al Khaleej chairman says Jose Gomes needs time after winless start

Al Khaleej chairman Ahmed Al Khuraidah says Jose Gomes needs more time to establish himself before the positive results begin to appear at the Saudi Pro League club.

Al Khaleej have failed to win any of their four league matches since the Portuguese manager took charge. They have drawn three games and lost one, while their involvement in the King’s Cup also ended at an early stage.

Gomes was appointed by Al Khaleej this summer after leaving Al Fateh, but his first weeks in charge have been complicated by injuries and the disruption caused by a change in management.

“Some players have been affected by injuries, most notably Angelo Fulgini and Joshua King, as well as a number of other players,” Al Khuraidah said in comments reported by Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added: “The technical change following the departure of Georgios Donis also means that Jose Gomes needs time to settle.”

Al Khuraidah remains confident that the team can improve once the squad is back to full strength.

“I believe that when the team is complete, Al Khaleej will show a better level,” he said.

The club’s early-season results have placed attention on Gomes, who arrived after a spell with Al Fateh and had previously managed Zamalek. However, Al Khuraidah indicated that the club’s leadership believes the former Zamalek coach should be given time to work with his players and adapt to his new surroundings.

Gomes has also voiced concerns about the demands being placed on players by the Saudi Pro League schedule. Earlier this season, he questioned the decision to arrange matches at such short intervals during the opening weeks of the campaign.

“Playing a match every three days at the start of the season? It is a little strange, and the people responsible for organising the league schedule certainly have difficulty arranging the matches because of the Gulf and Asian Cups,” Gomes said in comments published by the Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah several weeks ago.

His comments came as clubs dealt with a crowded opening schedule, with the league calendar affected by commitments in the Gulf and Asian competitions.

Despite Al Khaleej’s failure to secure a victory under Gomes so far, the chairman’s comments suggest the club is not seeking an immediate change in direction. Instead, the club expects the side to improve as injured players return and the new manager has more time to establish his methods.

Gomes took over at Al Khaleej after departing Al Fateh, while Donis had been in charge before the Portuguese coach’s arrival. The transition has left Al Khaleej still searching for their first win of the league campaign, with three draws and one defeat from Gomes’ opening four matches.