Sports

Al‑Ittihad Coach Stresses Team Development After 4-1 Loss to Al‑Ain

By This article first appeared on Goal.com and was syndicated with permission.

Jens Wiesing, the German manager of Al‑Ittihad, defended his squad after the club’s 4-1 defeat to Al‑Ain in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite. He said the team is still a work in progress and that reaching the level fans expect requires time and consistent effort, not a quick fix. "I am very happy with the players in my team, and I will defend them to the last breath," Wiesing told reporters. "This is the same team that began the pre‑season preparation period with us, but what has happened from the start of preparation until today? We have developed, and we are not machines to be transformed at the press of a button." He added that difficult days are part of building a side and that results alone judge a coach’s work, sometimes unfairly. Wiesing highlighted the disparity in preparation time, noting Al‑Ain had a full week to prepare while Al‑Ittihad had only three days amid a congested fixture list. He said fatigue and the physical toll were factors in the loss. "We feel great frustration after the defeat. We knew how difficult it would be to face a team with experience that has achieved big results," he said. Wiesing also said he takes full responsibility for the result and that the loss was not due to tactical flaws. He emphasized the need to improve mentally, physically and technically to compete with strong opponents and to continue developing the team.