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Paul McNamara

Michel, the decorated Al-Qadsiah head coach, has accused Saudi football’s detractors of ignorance ahead of his team’s Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al-Ahli in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The Spaniard, who won six La Liga titles as an exceptional midfielder for Real Madrid, said people in his homeland “only discuss football in Saudi Arabia from a financial perspective”.
Despite spending more than US$80 million following promotion to the top flight last season, and forking out around US$76 million for Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui from Atalanta this summer, Al-Qadsiah are the lowest spenders and least heralded of the four teams competing in this week’s Super Cup.
Referencing Al-Hilal’s progress to the quarter-finals of the recent Club World Cup, Michel, said: “They delivered a high level of performance in a big tournament, full of international players, so when people just want to talk about money it gives you the impression they are talking without proper information.
“People who have the information know Saudi teams have big potential and a high level.”

Michel’s impassioned words were met with applause from most Saudi journalists in the room.
The 62-year-old, who was joint-third highest scorer at the 1990 World Cup and fourth in the Ballon d’Or voting three years earlier, joked that the welcome from Hong Kong folk had reminded him how it felt to be a superstar and in the spotlight.
“It’s been amazing and shows the way the fans here love football,” Michel, who played 66 times for Spain, said.
“This is an outstanding experience, and it will expose the potential of Saudi football to people overseas. For us, it’s a good opportunity for not only exposure in this region but around the world.”
Koen Casteels, the Al-Qadsiah keeper, who recorded the most clean sheets and conceded the fewest goals in last season’s Saudi Pro League, said: “The fans were waiting when we arrived, it’s always nice to be far away and see that support. It’s beneficial for Saudi football that so many people are recognising us and asking for autographs.”
Al-Ahli were a late Super Cup addition after Al-Hilal withdrew, citing player fatigue.
Michel refused to discuss the switch of teams, but Matthias Jaissle, who led Al-Ahli to last season’s AFC Champions League Elite title, appeared to aim a cheeky dig at the stayaway club.
“It wasn’t planned that we would participate, but fans in Saudi Arabia have called us great ambassadors for the country and we want to do the same here,” head coach Jaissle said.
“We haven’t travelled just for a nice visit, we’re here with full conviction we can deliver our best.”

Al-Ahli, who were beaten on penalties by eventual champions Al-Hilal in last year’s Saudi Super Cup semi-finals, finished fifth in the league, one position below King’s Cup runners-up Al-Qadsiah, with their focus having been on claiming the club’s first continental title.
Al-Ahli’s late Super Cup inclusion led to hasty schedule rearrangements, and the team arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, two days after Al-Qadsiah.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy nonetheless said that “we’re working every day to put the club back on top, and we’ll do everything possible to go back to Jeddah with the trophy”.
“We’re the biggest club in Saudi,” former Chelsea No 1 Mendy added.
“The objective is clear, it’s to build a team to win trophies, and we have an opportunity in front of us now.”


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Sport

Football

Al-Qadsiah’s boss, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Michel, says some people look only at the financial aspect


Al-Qadsiah’s boss, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Michel, says some people look only at the financial aspect.


Al-Ahli

Edouard Mendy

Matthias Jaissle

Saudi football’s critics accused of fixating on money ahead of Super Cup semi in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Al-Qadsiah’s boss, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Michel, says some people look only at the financial aspect

Al-Qadsiah’s boss, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Michel, says some people look only at the financial aspect