Jens Wissing said team spirit, courage and sacrifice were behind Al-Ittihad’s 1-0 victory over Al-Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League, after refusing to discuss questions about Moussa Diaby and Imam Ashour.
Al-Ittihad secured their first win of the season on Friday evening at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, with the result coming in the second round of the competition. The match became more difficult for the winners after Dion Lopy was sent off early in the second half.
Speaking at his post-match news conference, Wissing described the contest as a demanding one and praised his players for the way they responded to the pressure.
“It was a difficult match, and there was a lot of pressure on us. Our players performed with courage and sacrifice until the end,” he said, in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.
Asked what had made the difference, the German coach pointed to the character associated with the club.
“When the spirit is present, the great Al-Ittihad appears, a team with a rich history of winning titles. That is what we always want,” Wissing said.
He added that Al-Ittihad had shown their quality against one of the strongest teams in Saudi Arabia, while highlighting the collective effort required to protect the lead after going down to 10 men.
“We are a big team, and we faced one of the best teams in the kingdom. We had our say because everyone worked, made an effort and took responsibility, especially after our player Dion Lopy was sent off at the start of the second half,” he said.
Wissing then expressed his frustration when questions turned away from the match and towards the club’s transfer plans.
The coach was asked about the future of France winger Moussa Diaby, who is reportedly approaching a move to Bayer Leverkusen, as well as the possibility of Al-Ittihad signing Egypt and Al Ahly midfielder Imam Ashour.
“I will not talk about anything outside the match on this happy night for the Al-Ittihad supporters. Things at Al-Ittihad are not only about tactics; they are also about the spirit, sacrifice and effort of the players,” Wissing replied.
The victory moved Al-Ittihad on to four points from their opening two matches. They began their Saudi Pro League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Al-Kholood in the first round and now sit fourth in the early league table.
Al-Ittihad’s success over Al-Qadsiah was achieved despite the pressure surrounding the team before kick-off and the setback of Lopy’s dismissal. Wissing’s comments reflected his view that the result was secured through collective commitment rather than individual quality alone, as his side held on to claim a narrow win.
