Al-Wasl coach Roy Vitoria acknowledged his team’s errors after a 2-1 defeat to Al-Qadsiah in the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite league phase at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium on Monday evening.
Vitoria: Good Performance, Poor Result
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Vitoria said his side produced a solid and balanced first half but lacked a cutting edge in attack.
“We played a good, even match in the first half and were organized, but we were not effective going forward,” he said. “In the second half, Al-Qadsiah exploited our mistakes and scored two goals. Then our team improved and managed a late goal, but time was not on our side to equalize. I am comfortable with the performance, but not satisfied with the result.”
Asked whether a lack of concentration led to conceding two quick goals after the break, Vitoria pointed to Al-Qadsiah’s discipline and efficiency.
“Al-Qadsiah were very organized and tried to exploit the chances they had, and they succeeded,” he said. “We could have been more focused and not allowed two consecutive goals. Unfortunately, our awakening came late in the match, we only scored one goal, and we could not come back.”
Rodgers Satisfied with Winning Start
Al-Qadsiah coach Brendan Rodgers expressed satisfaction with his team’s continental debut, calling the win over Al-Wasl an important step in their first Asian campaign.
“We started on the right path and won our opening Asian match,” Rodgers said. “We are pleased with what we have done in the league and the Asian Cup, and with rest and improved conditions, we will perform better.”
He highlighted the difficult circumstances surrounding recent fixtures, noting that the team played three matches in a short period in high heat and humidity.
“After all these conditions and the pressure of matches, it was important to come away with a win today in the continental opener, then get rest and review everything that happened,” he added.
Rotation and Load Management
Rodgers discussed his decision to make changes to the lineup, saying he aimed to rotate players and give opportunities to about five local names.
“We tried to rotate relatively and use around five local players,” he said. “It was important to give some players rest, and we achieved the most important thing, which is the win. This is an excellent step in our first Asian appearance.”
The English coach stressed the importance of managing his players’ physical loads in the coming period.
“I will carry out the necessary rotation, and we have players who have been under great physical pressure,” he said.
Rodgers used Keno as an example, explaining that the player had featured until advanced stages of the World Cup, joined the team about three weeks later, and played in all matches.
“Today he came off suffering from fatigue and showed signs of an injury,” Rodgers said.
Rest Priority During Break
Asked about Al-Qadsiah’s preparations after playing nine matches in one month and what the team plans during the upcoming break, Rodgers confirmed that rest will be the priority.
“There will be important rest for us,” he said. “Some will leave to rest during the break, and after that we can raise the intensity of preparation.”
He added: “After all this pressure, everyone must get enough rest. Our players are not machines, and they need rest and rotation as well. It was important to handle the conditions of fixture congestion properly.”
Rodgers concluded by emphasizing that Al-Qadsiah achieved their most important objective at the start of their Asian journey by securing the three points, noting that the upcoming break will give the team a chance to recover energy and prepare better for future commitments.