Sergio Conceição Revitalizes Al-Ittihad in AFC Champions League Run
Sergio Conceição has engineered a dramatic turnaround at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, leading the club to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. According to reports from Italy, the Portuguese manager has transformed the team's fortunes despite a summer of significant upheaval that saw the departures of star players Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté. Under his guidance, Al-Ittihad has secured six wins and four clean sheets in its last seven matches, re-establishing itself as a force in Asian competition.
The club's qualification for the last eight marks only the third time it has reached this stage in the past twelve years. This achievement is built on a newfound defensive solidity and an explosive attack; Al-Ittihad currently boasts the best offense in the tournament with 23 goals and ranks second for chances created with 34. This represents a stark contrast to the team's form prior to Conceição's arrival, which followed a period of scaled-back investment and the loss of key dressing room leaders.
In post-match comments, Conceição attributed the success to the players' mentality. He stated that he asked the squad to embody the passion and ambition of the supporters, praising the team's defensive compactness and determination. The former Porto manager also emphasized his comfort with the intense pressure associated with a club of Al-Ittihad's stature, suggesting that embracing such expectations is fundamental to the job.
The resurgence has restored a clear identity to the team, characterized by an intense and pragmatic style of play. This sets the stage for a potentially intriguing narrative in the next round, where Conceição could face a familiar opponent. Roberto Mancini, his former teammate at Lazio and now the title-winning manager of Qatari side Al-Sadd, is a potential quarter-final opponent, adding a layer of personal history to the continental clash.
For Al-Ittihad, the run under Conceição signals a successful recalibration following a high-profile but turbulent period. The project now appears focused on collective strength over individual star power, with the team's continental progress serving as the most compelling evidence of its effectiveness. The coming matches will test whether this revived version of the Saudi giant can challenge for the AFC Champions League title.
