Wissing's Bold Lineup Change for Al-Ittihad's League Opener
Jens Wissing wasted no time stamping his authority on Al-Ittihad’s attack in the Roshn Saudi League opener, making a ruthless call that sidelined Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena in favour of new focal point Youssef En-Nesyri.
Al-Ittihad welcome Al-Khaleej to Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah today, Saturday, in the final clash of the first round of league fixtures. It is the kind of stage where pecking orders are set early. Wissing made his intentions clear.
The German coach built his starting XI around En-Nesyri as a classic No. 9, the Moroccan leading the line with width and pace either side. Moussa Diaby, the Frenchman, started on one flank, with Dutch winger Steven Bergwijn on the other, giving Al-Ittihad a front three built for direct, aggressive football.
The shock came when the squad list dropped. Ilenikhena was nowhere to be seen.
Not only did the Nigerian lose the battle for the starting berth, he did not even make the matchday squad. That decision arrived just days after he came off the bench in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Al-Jazira of the UAE in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off qualifier, a game that seemed to offer him a platform to push for more minutes. Instead, he finds himself on the outside looking in.
He was not alone. Serbian defender Jan-Carlo Simić, who started that Al-Jazira match, also disappeared from the squad for the league opener. Wissing cut him and reshaped his back line.
In Simić’s place, the coach turned back to Ahmed Al-Julaidan at right-back. On the opposite side, Faris Abdi held his spot at left-back, while Danilo Pereira and Stefan Keller formed the central defensive pairing tasked with protecting the penalty area.
If the defence and attack told stories of change and hard choices, midfield was the one department untouched. Wissing kept faith with the same trio that started against Al-Jazira: Farha Al-Shamrani, Dion Lopy and Houssem Aouar. The message was simple – the engine room worked, so it stays.
Al-Ittihad’s line-up was as follows: En-Nesyri spearheading the attack, Diaby and Bergwijn on the wings, Al-Shamrani, Lopy and Aouar in midfield, with Al-Julaidan, Abdi, Pereira and Keller across the back.
Bold calls in August often echo deep into a season. For En-Nesyri, this is a clear vote of confidence. For Ilenikhena and Simić, it is an early challenge: fight back, or watch this new-look Al-Ittihad move on without them.
