Vissing challenges Postecoglou’s reading of Al-Ittihad’s classic victory

Jens Vissing has rejected Ange Postecoglou’s assessment of the match after Al-Ittihad secured a 2-1 victory over Al-Nassr in the fifth round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Postecoglou, the Al-Nassr manager, said after the classic that Al-Ittihad had only made an impact during the opening 15 minutes. He argued that Al-Nassr had been the better side thereafter and had created the more significant opportunities.

Those comments prompted a strong response from Vissing, who insisted that Al-Ittihad’s performance could be judged by what the team had produced on the pitch.

Asked about Postecoglou’s remarks, Vissing said: “I want to make sure of that first. Everyone saw what we did, and we were not successful with the counter-attacks we created. What we did on the pitch can be seen by everyone.”

The Al-Ittihad manager also disputed the suggestion that his side simply defended its advantage. He said his team made tactical adjustments to deal with Al-Nassr’s pressure, including changing the defensive structure to limit deliveries into the penalty area.

“We tried to organise the team through the substitutions, and we played with five players at the back to reduce the crosses,” Vissing said.

Al-Ittihad’s manager had previously seen his side face Al-Qadsiah, and he said the performance against Al-Nassr demonstrated significant progress since that fixture.

Vissing highlighted improvements in both the tactical and mental aspects of the team’s game, while praising the players for carrying out the plan during a demanding match.

“Today’s match was different from the game against Al-Qadsiah. Since that match, we have developed a lot tactically and mentally. What I saw in terms of tactics and spirit, and what we applied on the pitch, was excellent,” he said.

Al-Ittihad took control during the early stages and scored twice, although Al-Nassr managed to find the net before half-time. Vissing believed his side could have extended its lead further during its strongest spell.

“For the first 35 minutes, we played a great match. We scored two goals and could have scored more than that, while Al-Nassr snatched a goal from us in the first half,” he said.

The result gave Al-Ittihad a 2-1 win in the fifth round of the Roshn Saudi League, while the post-match discussion centred on the contrasting views of the two managers.

Postecoglou’s argument was that Al-Nassr had taken control after the opening quarter of an hour and created the better chances. Vissing’s response was that Al-Ittihad had shown more than a brief attacking burst, pointing instead to its tactical changes, defensive organisation and overall performance across the match.

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