Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Italian coach Roberto Mancini firmly rejected any blame directed at him, insisting that the Saudi national team deserved to win against Bahrain in their recent match, which ended in a frustrating goalless draw.

"Today, we absolutely deserved to win. We squandered numerous opportunities, including a missed penalty, but overall we were the better team," Mancini declared.

Addressing the reaction of fans after the match, he said: "If you’re upset, it’s only natural for emotions to run high. But let’s not lose sight of what happened on the pitch."

When questioned about Salem Al-Dawsari's penalty miss, Mancini responded sharply, "Ask him!"

During the post-match press conference, Mancini emphasized: "Had we converted the penalties against Indonesia and today, we would be sitting with nine points. I’ve done everything possible; I fielded all our forwards, yet we were simply unlucky."

He criticized the team's attacking performance, asserting, "Our offensive play is below the necessary standard. I put all my forwards on the field to change the dynamics, but fortune did not favor us. This isn’t a new problem; it’s been persistent for some time."

Mancini expressed frustration over external criticisms, saying, "This year, we’ve had numerous young players, and unfortunately, some aren’t getting playing time at their clubs. We’ve made progress as a team, but the onus is on our attacking players to step up. It’s easy to point fingers at the coach, but the players must take responsibility as well. While I take my role seriously, they also need to acknowledge their part in our current situation. We’ve worked with each player individually and collectively, and I know they have much more to give."

He concluded with a bold statement, "Today’s result is unacceptable."