Al Hilal face Shabab Al Ahli Dubai test as Inzaghi weighs major changes

Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi has confirmed that his side will be without four important players for their AFC Champions League Elite meeting with Shabab Al Ahli Dubai on 03 November 2026.

Samerville, Ruben Neves, Martinelli and Salem Al-Dawsari will all miss the fourth-round fixture, leaving Inzaghi to reshuffle his team for the match. The Italian said he hoped the injured players would return as soon as possible, with Al Hilal needing the full squad during a demanding period of the season.

Inzaghi said the congested schedule had made player selection particularly challenging and that fitness would be central to his decisions.

“We play many matches over short periods, so I have to make the decisions that ensure the involvement of the players who are in the best physical condition,” he said.

The Al Hilal manager added that he could make significant changes to the starting line-up, although the final selection would depend on the team’s training session on the day before the match.

The fixture comes as Inzaghi reflected on the progress made since he took charge of Al Hilal. He said the work carried out over the past year and a half was now beginning to produce visible results on the pitch.

“After a year and a half of working here with Al Hilal, we have started to reap the rewards of our work and see them become reality on the pitch,” Inzaghi said. “We are always working to improve, and our team deserves to stand on the podium in every competition.”

Winning trophies remains a central objective for the club, according to Inzaghi, who said the expectations of the supporters were understandable given Al Hilal’s status.

“It is natural for our fans to demand titles because we are Al Hilal,” he said. “This is a comprehensive ambition for us as a team. We are striving to deliver it and give everything for it, and we hope to succeed.”

Despite the absences, Inzaghi insisted that he had complete faith in his squad’s ability to compete across all of its tournaments.

“Our team will compete in every tournament and every competition because we are Al Hilal, and I have complete confidence in my players,” he said.

He also credited the club’s supporters with providing the team with strength during difficult moments and called for their continued backing against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai.

“Our fans are our fuel and our strength,” Inzaghi said. “They have proved that at every stage I have been with the team, and I have seen it with my own eyes. Their impact is significant and remarkable.”