Wissing stands by En-Nesyri after Al-Ittihad fans voice frustration

Youssef En-Nesyri was booed by sections of the Al-Ittihad support during the 3-2 victory over Al Hazem, but coach Jens Wissing has publicly rejected the criticism aimed at the Morocco striker.

En-Nesyri started the match for the Jeddah club but was substituted after 61 minutes without scoring or providing an assist. His departure was met with loud jeers from several supporters, who appeared dissatisfied with his attacking contribution.

The reaction was particularly stark because Steven Bergwijn had enjoyed a decisive influence in Al-Ittihad’s attacking play. En-Nesyri, by contrast, failed to make the kind of direct impact in front of goal that the home crowd expected.

Wissing, however, pointed to the striker’s contribution away from the scoresheet and offered him unequivocal backing.

“Youssef En-Nesyri is one of my best players. Since my arrival, he has been among the best and I do not care what the media or the public say about him,” said the German coach.

He added: “He may lack success in front of goal, but he puts in a huge amount of effort and that is very important to me.”

The defence comes at a difficult moment for En-Nesyri, whose confidence appears to be under pressure both at club and international level. Since joining Al-Ittihad, the former Sevilla striker has scored three goals in seven appearances in all competitions.

His place in the Morocco set-up has also become less secure. After gradually losing his position under Walid Regragui, En-Nesyri was left out of Mohamed Ouahbi’s plans and did not take part in the 2026 World Cup.

A succession of changes at club level has further disrupted his momentum. His time at Fenerbahce became increasingly uncertain before he left for Saudi Arabia at the last moment, completing the move in complicated circumstances.

At 29, the Fes-born forward still brings considerable high-level experience and the attributes of a recognised centre-forward, a profile that has become relatively uncommon. Yet his recent difficulties have placed him under growing scrutiny, particularly when his performances do not produce goals.

Wissing appears determined to give En-Nesyri time to rediscover his effectiveness. The coach’s comments make clear that he values the striker’s work rate and involvement in the team’s collective play, even when his finishing does not meet expectations.

The responsibility now rests with En-Nesyri to answer the criticism on the pitch. While Wissing says he does not care about the reaction from the media or supporters, the mood among parts of the Al-Ittihad crowd suggests patience is beginning to run out.