Al-Ittihad boss Jens Vising praises players’ sacrifice after Al Jazira victory

Jens Vising praised the commitment of his Al-Ittihad players after they secured a 4-1 victory over Al Jazira in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League Elite.

The Saudi side’s emphatic win came at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, earning them a place in the league phase of the competition.

Vising gathered the entire Al-Ittihad squad on the pitch immediately after the final whistle, before the players went into the dressing room. The German manager used the moment to congratulate them and remind them of the demands ahead.

“I told the players that they had won in a wonderful way, that they deserved to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, that this is their place, and that they must now return, rest and prepare for the next match,” Vising said at his post-match news conference, in comments reported by Asharq Al-Awsat.

The result came in difficult conditions in the United Arab Emirates, but Vising said his players had approached the game with respect for their opponents and had been willing to put in the required effort.

“I am very happy with the victory. We deserved to qualify. We knew how difficult the match would be in these conditions, we respected the opponent and made sacrifices. I am happy with the whole group because of the sacrifices the players made,” he added.

The victory gives Al-Ittihad momentum before the start of the new Roshn Saudi League season, although Vising was unwilling to be drawn into questions about possible transfer activity.

The coach declined to discuss players who could arrive during the current summer transfer window, as well as those who might leave the club. France winger Moussa Diaby has been linked with a potential departure, but Vising insisted that his attention was elsewhere.

“The time is not right to talk about that (new signings). There are three weeks remaining, during which I will assess some things. Right now, I am thinking about winning the next match at home and in front of our fans. That is the most important thing,” he said.

Asked specifically about Diaby, Vising replied: “My full focus is only on the matches, and I do not listen to the media. Moussa Diaby is a great player, but we are now thinking about the upcoming matches.”

Al-Ittihad will begin their new Roshn Saudi League campaign on Saturday, when they host Al-Kholood at Alinma Stadium in the opening round of the competition.

The club’s immediate priority is therefore a domestic fixture, following a successful trip to Abu Dhabi that kept them on course for the AFC Champions League Elite league phase.