Inzaghi unsure over Watkins for Al Hilal’s AFC Champions League Elite opener

Simone Inzaghi says a decision on whether Al Hilal striker Ollie Watkins will face Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite will be made after Monday’s training session.

Al Hilal host the Qatari side at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday in the opening round of the league phase. Inzaghi and defender Kalidou Koulibaly previewed the match at a news conference on Monday, with the Italian stressing the importance of the competition to the Saudi Pro League club.

“This is a major tournament and one that is very close to our hearts,” Inzaghi said in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. “We will use today’s training session to prepare properly for our first match in it.”

Al Hilal faced Al Gharafa last year, and Inzaghi believes the visitors remain largely unchanged.

“We know Al Gharafa. We played against them last year and, more or less, they have the same coach and players,” he said. “They have quick attackers and we will approach the game with great intensity.”

Inzaghi said his players were focused on the immediate challenge despite having played Al Taawoun only 48 hours earlier.

“We take each match separately. Tuesday will be our first game in this competition,” he added. “We played Al Taawoun 48 hours ago, but we will aim to win the match.”

The Al Hilal manager also praised his squad’s ability to cope with a demanding schedule, pointing out that the team had remained at the top of the domestic standings after three consecutive matches.

“The players are used to pressure. We have played three games in a row and we are still top of the league,” he said.

“We are the best team in both attack and defence in the Saudi Pro League. Tomorrow, we will open a new page in the Asian competition.”

Inzaghi provided an update on the players available for the fixture, confirming that Simon Buabre would be involved and that Al Hilal would look to use all of their available options during the tournament.

“Simon Buabre will be available for the match, and we will try to use all the players available to us in this competition,” he said.

Watkins’ involvement will depend on how he comes through the final session before the game, while Crysencio Summerville and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to feature.

“The decision on whether Ollie Watkins plays will be made after today’s training,” Inzaghi said. “Crysencio Summerville and Gabriel Martinelli will take part in the match.”

Al Hilal were eliminated from last season’s AFC Champions League Elite in the quarter-finals after losing to Qatar’s Al Sadd on penalties. They remain the competition’s most successful club, with four titles.