Wissing's Mixed Emotions After Al-Ittihad's 3-2 Win Over Al-Hazm
Al-Ittihad walked off with the points and a 3-2 win over Al-Hazm in the Saudi Roshn League, but Jens Wissing’s tone after the game told its own story. Satisfaction, yes. Concern, definitely.
“We are happy with the win, and there is no easy encounter given the fixture congestion,” the German technical director said after the final whistle, a line that summed up both the performance and the schedule that is starting to bite.
Al-Ittihad have crammed five matches into less than two weeks. They have won four and lost none, but the strain is showing.
“We played five matches in two weeks, produced a brilliant first half and scored, but we lost our sharpness in the second half and allowed the opponent to attack. The most important thing in the end is securing the victory.”
The first 45 minutes backed him up. Al-Ittihad were sharp, aggressive and in control. After the break, the legs and the ideas slowed. Al-Hazm grew into the contest and forced the issue, turning what had looked like a routine night into a tense finish.
Wissing did not hide from that drop-off. He linked it directly to the calendar.
“We played three days ago against Al-Qadsiah, and we exerted a great deal of physical effort, and that certainly affected us,” he said. “We faced a side that wore us down with long balls, and we were forced to exert a great effort. Every team has its own weapons, and in the end the result is the most important thing.”
Fixture Pile-Up and an Unfinished Project
For all the early-season points, Wissing was clear: this is a work in progress.
“We are certainly happy with our start, it is a good one for the season, but we still have a lot ahead of us. The transfer window is also still open, and we are studying our options.”
That line underlined two realities. The squad is being pushed to its physical limits, and it is still being built.
Since the summer camp, Wissing has tried to stamp a clear identity on this team.
“Since the start of the camp we have been working on developing ourselves, because we want to produce football that relies on high intensity, but we have not reached that yet,” he admitted. “The demands I ask of the players are being carried out well, but they are not yet at the best possible level.”
The idea is bold, the schedule unforgiving. High-intensity football across five games in under two weeks is a big ask, even for a deep squad. The second half against Al-Hazm showed exactly where that tension lies.
Diaby Left Out: “Not Mentally Ready”
One of the most striking decisions on the night was the continued absence of Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman had trained, yet did not even feature.
Wissing cut through any speculation with a blunt explanation.
“The answer is simple. When a player comes and says he is not mentally ready, he cannot be involved.”
No dressing it up, no half-measures.
“I want players who are ready, and in the coming period we have a lot of fixture congestion, so if a player is not 100% ready, I am not prepared to rely on him.”
In a squad being stretched by constant games, the message is clear: physical and mental readiness are non-negotiable. Names and reputations do not override that.
Unwavering Backing for En-Nesyri
If Diaby’s situation raised eyebrows, Wissing’s stance on Youssef En-Nesyri was full-blooded defence.
The Moroccan striker has been under fire for a declining goalscoring return. The criticism has grown louder with every game in which he fails to find the net. Wissing was having none of it.
“Youssef En-Nesyri is one of my best players. Since my arrival he has been one of the best players, and I do not care what the media or the fans say about him,” he insisted.
The numbers in front of goal may not flatter the forward, but Wissing sees a different picture.
“He may be unsuccessful in scoring, but he puts in a high and excellent effort, and that matters to me.”
In a side built on intensity and work rate, that effort is currency. For now, it buys En-Nesyri total trust from his coach.
A Strong Start Under Strain
Four wins from five in such a short span would satisfy most managers. Wissing is no different on that front, yet his words carried a warning.
The team is winning, but not yet at the level he demands. The calendar is punishing, the transfer window still open, the tactical plan still bedding in. Players are tired, some are not mentally ready, and key figures are under scrutiny.
The results are there. The performances, by his own admission, are not complete.
If Al-Ittihad can keep grinding out wins while the project takes shape, nights like the 3-2 over Al-Hazm will be seen as the hard yards of a long season. If the physical and mental strain starts to tell, this early surge could be remembered as the moment the warning signs first appeared.
