Mauricio Doleac admitted he was unable to explain Al Riyadh’s collapse after his side suffered a 6-0 defeat by Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday.
The Brazilian coach appeared deeply affected by the result and gave a series of brief, bleak answers during the post-match news conference. His comments reflected the scale of Al Riyadh’s heaviest setback and raised questions about the team’s defensive weaknesses.
“I cannot speak, even if I wanted to, I would not be able to,” Doleac said when the news conference began.
The 6-0 loss came in the 12th round of the Saudi Pro League, with Al Riyadh conceding four of the goals after half-time. Asked directly whether he expected the team to improve defensively after allowing six goals, Doleac replied: “I do not know whether we will improve defensively.”
His response offered little reassurance to Al Riyadh supporters, with the manager unable to provide an explanation for the defensive problems that had allowed Al Qadsiah to take complete control of the match.
Doleac was also asked what had changed during the second half, when his side fell apart and conceded four times.
“What changed in the second half? Nothing,” he said.
The coach was then questioned about his own demeanour during the news conference and whether he was angry with the performance. His answer was again brief: “I am not angry.”
The tone of the exchange suggested frustration and resignation rather than anger, as Doleac struggled to account for a result that left Al Riyadh in a difficult position in the league table.
Al Riyadh remain 11th
The defeat was Al Riyadh’s fifth of the season. They remain on 12 points from three wins, three draws and five losses, leaving them 11th in the standings.
That position places the club close to the danger area, with its current campaign falling well short of the ambitions it held at the beginning of the season.
Al Riyadh’s next listed fixture is against Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League on 6 November 2026. Al Qadsiah are scheduled to face Al Gharafa in the AFC Champions League Elite on 2 November 2026.
The result leaves Al Riyadh needing a response after a performance that not only produced a heavy defeat but also exposed uncertainty within the team over how its defensive problems can be addressed.
