KSAsportz report
HONG KONG — Al Ittihad head coach Laurent Blanc remains tight-lipped about his strategy for containing Cristiano Ronaldo as his team gears up to face Al Nassr in the semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong. The match is set to draw significant attention, with an expected attendance of over 20,000 fans at the Hong Kong Stadium.
During the pre-match press conference, Blanc was directly questioned about his plan to stop Ronaldo, whose past performances include over 800 career goals. He replied with a smile, “If I had the solution to stop Ronaldo, I wouldn’t share it with you. He’s a great player, and Al Nassr have a lot of quality players. We need to defend well and score to win.”
Having taken the helm at Al Ittihad last summer, Blanc emphasized the team’s mental and psychological readiness for the challenge ahead. “We are here with one clear goal to win the tournament. We are mentally prepared, and we know our opponent well,” he stated.
When asked about potential squad changes following the tournament, Blanc remarked, “The transfer window is still open, but I don’t know if we’ll make changes… we’ll see.” His cautious approach comes after a season in which Al Ittihad achieved a respectable ranking, placing in the top three of the Saudi Professional League.
Blanc lauded his squad’s performance last season, noting: “The team did well and showed a strong level. We’re missing Hassan Kadesh and Fawaz Al-Sqoor in defense, but we have good replacements.” The defense has been a focal point, with Al Ittihad conceding 30 goals last season, compared to Al Nassr’s 37.
Regarding potential new signings, he said, “I’ve already mentioned that it would be great to have two or three more players to strengthen the league with more talent. But I’m satisfied with the squad I have.”
Team captain Karim Benzema also addressed the media, expressing excitement about facing his former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo. “It’s always special to face someone you once played with. Cristiano is an outstanding player. But tomorrow’s match is about Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr.”
In a rallying call to fans, Benzema concluded, “To our dear Saudi supporters, we need your support. We’ll show you what we can do on the pitch.” With both teams eager to make an impact, the anticipation for the match continues to grow.