According to reports, Laurent Blanc, the French coach of Al-Ittihad, emphasized that the victory over Al-Nassr last week was a major turning point mentally for his team. He said this win helped the players collectively feel a sense of power and the ability to win—something clearly evident in the match against Al-Fayha.

Blanc said in a post-match press conference following the 3-0 victory over Al-Fayha: “Before the match against Al-Fayha, I told the players that we have the opportunity to achieve something extraordinary; enjoy it and don’t be afraid. This challenge is exciting and important for all of us.”

Regarding the decision to use goalkeeper Rajković despite his previous injury, Blanc explained: “It wasn’t a big risk. If his injury required surgery, I wouldn’t have allowed him to play, but his condition allowed for a calculated risk. I made this decision, and it was completely intentional.”

On the other hand, Fabinho, the Brazilian player of Al-Ittihad, emphasized that his team has not officially won the Saudi Professional League yet, although they are very close. He said their main goal is to continue the winning streak, regardless of the competitors’ results.

Fabinho stated in an interview: “Officially, the trophy hasn’t been handed to us yet, so we need one more win, and all our focus is on preparing for the next match.”

He added: “We hope the injured players recover and are ready to play. We are trying to secure the championship as soon as possible.”

When asked if he would like Al-Hilal to lose against Al-Raed on Monday to confirm Al-Ittihad’s title, Fabinho said: “Our job is to win, and we only need three more points.”

He concluded: “If Al-Hilal loses, it would be great for us, but our focus is only on ourselves, and we definitely want to secure the title as soon as possible.”