DOHA — Roberto Mancini, the Italian coach of the Saudi national team, has clarified recent statements attributed to him, stating that he never claimed the team was not a contender for the Asian Cup 2023 title. Instead, he emphasized the presence of strong teams based on rankings during a press conference ahead of Saudi Arabia's match against Thailand.
Addressing the inclusion of young players after securing qualification, Mancini explained, "We have young players, and we have important, prominent players. We plan to utilize many names in this tournament."
Acknowledging the challenge of the upcoming match against Thailand, Mancini remarked, "It will be a tough game; the opponent has been performing well." When questioned about player Hassan Tambakti and potential injuries, he indicated that decisions regarding participation would be made closer to the match.
Discussing fitness tests conducted before the tournament, Mancini praised Saud Abdulhamid as the best in terms of physical readiness. He stressed the importance of focusing on all aspects in training sessions to achieve success.
Turning to the offensive aspect of the Saudi national team, Mancini acknowledged ongoing efforts to score more goals and enhance performance in the attacking line. Regarding the current generation in the team and future plans, he mentioned, "We currently have promising names, and I will work in the upcoming period to include many young players on the Saudi national team list."
Responding to questions about Salem Al-Dawsari's role and performance, Mancini highlighted the depth of the squad, emphasizing the need for rotation and quick recovery, considering the frequency of matches.
In anticipation of the round of 16 match, Mancini reiterated the team's goal to win, emphasizing that success in the tournament requires victory in every match. However, he expressed uncertainty about upcoming opponents, stating, "We do not know our upcoming matches yet."
