Al-Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi compared his team’s stunning 4-3 victory over Manchester City in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup to “scaling Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen”, as the Saudi club secured a surprising place in the quarter-finals.
Inzaghi’s outfit will take on Brazil’s Fluminense in the next round on Friday, after Marcos Leonardo netted a 112th-minute winner for the Riyadh-based team, knocking out Pep Guardiola’s side following a thrilling seven-goal encounter in Orlando.
WHY IT MATTERS
Since 2023, Al-Hilal has been largely owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and in the past two years, they have heavily invested in acquiring high-profile international players, including Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Kalidou Koulibaly.
KEY STATEMENTS
Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi remarked: “The secret to this achievement was our players and the passion they displayed tonight. We needed to perform something extraordinary, considering the calibre of Manchester City.”
“It was like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, and we succeeded. Every player was outstanding in every aspect, both in possession and out of it.”
“We were exceptionally organised when in possession and showcased terrific technical skills against a team that is incredibly aggressive and proficient in controlling the ball.”
“(Pep) Guardiola, in my view, is the finest coach in the world. However, tonight we gave it our all, and I genuinely believe we earned this result.”
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