Khaled Al-Sheneif says Al-Ittihad have become ‘names without identity’ after Al-Kholood draw

Khaled Al-Sheneif has delivered a forceful criticism of Al-Ittihad’s players and administration after their disappointing 1-1 draw with Al-Kholood in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Speaking on his programme Dawrina Ghair, the prominent football analyst said Al-Ittihad had shown no meaningful improvement from last season and described their performance as a serious warning sign.

“Al-Ittihad have not changed from last season. It was a disastrous appearance in the first round. They are a lost team, technically devoid, and they are not offering anything new,” Al-Sheneif said.

His comments followed a result that left Al-Ittihad unable to begin the campaign with victory. The draw with Al-Kholood has intensified concerns around a side that has faced a difficult period since last season, including administrative turmoil, the departure of several star players and poor performances on the pitch.

Al-Sheneif also questioned the club’s recruitment and the way the squad has come together, directing much of his criticism towards the management.

“The administration is disastrous and the signings are non-existent, in addition to the group not adapting to one another. I do not know how long this situation will continue,” he added.

The former player and television pundit went further by saying that the team’s current performances were so unconvincing that supporters might choose not to attend matches.

“If I were an Al-Ittihad supporter, I would not attend the matches. There are no signs that the situation will improve, and may God help the fans,” he said.

Al-Ittihad had previously been viewed as a contender for major honours, but Al-Sheneif argued that the club’s status and identity appeared to have changed significantly.

“How did this team go from being a title contender to a collection of names without an identity? There must be some moves to save the club,” he concluded.

The criticism places further pressure on Al-Ittihad’s administration and squad at the start of the new Roshn Saudi League season. Rather than providing an immediate response to the problems that affected the club during the previous campaign, the draw with Al-Kholood has led to renewed questions about the team’s direction and its ability to improve.

Al-Ittihad’s difficult situation has been linked to several issues since last season, with uncertainty at administrative level, the loss of key players and a decline in technical performances all contributing to one of the club’s worst periods in recent times.