Al-Ittihad head coach Jens Wissing says Musa Diaby must be mentally ready before he can return to match action, while also giving his full backing to Youssef En-Nesyri despite criticism of the striker’s recent finishing.
Wissing was speaking after Al-Ittihad’s 3-2 victory over Al Hazem in the Saudi Pro League, a result which maintained the club’s strong opening to the season. He was pleased with the win but admitted the demands of a congested schedule had affected his players, particularly after half-time.
“We are happy with the victory, and there are no easy matches when the games are coming so quickly,” Wissing said at his post-match news conference. “We played five matches in two weeks and produced an excellent first half, scoring goals, but we lost our intensity in the second half and allowed the opponent to attack. In the end, the most important thing is that we won.”
Al-Ittihad have played five times in less than a fortnight, recording four victories without losing. Wissing said the team’s early form had provided encouragement, although he stressed that the campaign remained at an early stage and there was still significant room for improvement.
“Of course we are happy with our start. It is a good beginning to the season, but there is still a lot ahead of us,” he added. “The transfer window is also still open, and we are studying our options.”
The manager was asked why Diaby had again been left out despite taking part in training. The France international did not feature against Al Hazem, and Wissing said the decision was based on the player’s own assessment of his mental condition.
“The answer is simple: when a player comes and says he is not mentally ready, you cannot play him,” Wissing said.
“I want players who are ready. In the coming period we have a heavy schedule, and if a player is not 100% ready, I am not prepared to rely on him.”
Wissing also acknowledged that Al-Ittihad have yet to reach the level he wants, despite the progress made since the beginning of pre-season.
“Since the start of the training camp, we have been working to improve ourselves because we want to play football with high intensity, but we have not reached that level yet,” he said. “The demands I set for the players are being carried out well, but not in the best possible way so far.”
He attributed part of the second-half decline against Al Hazem to fatigue after the team’s previous match against Al Qadsiah three days earlier.
“We played against Al Qadsiah three days ago and made a huge physical effort, which definitely affected us,” Wissing said. “We faced a team that tired us with long balls, and we had to work very hard. Every team has its weapons, and in the end the result is what matters.”
The Al-Ittihad boss was equally emphatic in his defence of En-Nesyri, who has faced criticism over his lack of goals. Wissing said the Morocco striker retained his complete confidence and remained one of the most important players in his squad.
“Youssef En-Nesyri is one of my best players. Since I arrived, he has been one of the best players, and I do not care what the media or the fans say about him,” he said.
“He may be struggling to score, but he is putting in a great deal of excellent effort, and that is important to me.”
