Last Wednesday, Al-Hilal was surprised and defeated by Al Ain, 4-2, in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semi-finals. On the eve of the second leg, coach Jorge Jesus revealed that he was optimistic about the turnaround.
“It’s the first time that we have been at a disadvantage in the second round of the round, but we really believe in the comeback. We know our opponent well and the extraordinary level they have shown in the competition. Al Ain defends well, but we can come back from two goals down . We just think about recovering this disadvantage and being better than in the first game”, he said during a press conference.
🎙️ Some words from the head coach “Jorge Jesus” and “Sergej Milinković-Savić” before the second leg of Asian Champions League semifinal ⚽️#AlHilal 💙#HILvAIN ⏳#ACL 💫 pic.twitter.com/dN0Itgze8c
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) April 22, 2024
The defeat to Al Ain also marked the end of Al-Hilal’s 34 consecutive winning streak, which even entered the Guinness Book, the book of records. Jorge Jesus was surprised that the team had conceded four goals in the first duel.
“It’s not normal for Al-Hilal to concede four goals, on top of that with three penalties. It’s never happened to us, but football is like that. I hope that tomorrow things will change in our favor. It’s an important test for everyone, and we only have 90 minutes to reach the final”, he commented.
The return game between Al-Hilal and Al Ain is scheduled for this Tuesday, at 3pm (Brasília time), at the Kingdom Arena. The team led by Jorge Jesus needs to win by at least three goals to guarantee a place in the big decision of the Asian Champions League.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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