Saudi Gazette report

NAJRAN — Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus expressed his satisfaction with Al Hilal's 3-0 victory over Al-Okhdood, emphasizing the importance of starting the Saudi Pro League campaign on a strong note.

He also downplayed concerns over the recent departure of right-back Saud Abdulhamid.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jesus said: "It was crucial to begin the competition with a win, and that was our primary objective. We played an excellent first half with high collective quality, showcasing a variety of attacking solutions."

He added: "In the second half, our attacking momentum slowed, and the rhythm dropped. This was partly because we had already secured a three-goal lead in the first half, and there was a natural inclination to preserve the result. It's also early in the season, so this is understandable."

Jesus also highlighted the team's ongoing responsibilities: "We have a significant responsibility to defend our league title and compete in all tournaments. Our team has not lost domestically in 46 matches, which is a very important statistic for us."

Addressing the impact of Saud Abdulhamid's departure, Jesus was confident: "There is no significant effect from Saud Abdulhamid's absence. The strength of our team lies in its collective unity, and we will find solutions. We managed to compensate for Neymar's absence last season and maintained the team's quality, and today, we covered for Malcom’s absence as well."