"It was not a difficult match": Galtier reveals the behind-the-scenes of Al-Hilal's shock
NEOM coach eases the pressure on his players and threatens the sides at the top
NEOM head coach Christophe Galtier hailed a big win over Al-Hilal after his side wrapped up the game with two unanswered goals on Monday at the Kingdom Arena in the Saudi Roshn Pro League.
His players, he stressed, delivered an outstanding defensive performance and showed the focus and spirit the occasion demanded.
Galtier said during the press conference following the match: "We achieved a great feat and came away with a superb result. I am extremely pleased with what the team produced."
"We went into the match with a good mentality, and I asked the players to make Al-Hilal's task difficult throughout the encounter," he added. "Matches like these need a bit of luck, and we got it today. I hope this win gives us an extra boost and raises the ceiling of our ambitions in the coming period."
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Neom's weapon: "the pressure was on Al-Hilal"
Asharq Al-Awsat quoted the French coach, who confirmed that he had lifted the pressure off his players, saying: "I said before the match that it would not be difficult, because the pressure was not on us, but rather on Al-Hilal. We showed great solidity defensively, and we also managed to deal well with the chances that came our way."
Set pieces and crosses had dominated the team's preparations, the former Paris Saint-Germain coach revealed. "We focused heavily on set pieces, and we trained on how to make use of them, and this work does not go back to this season only, but rather began last season."
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Facing the top teams? The situation has changed now
He added: "We weren't delivering the required results against the top teams last season, but the situation has changed this season, as we now have a more professional team, and the players have also gained more maturity."
He went on to say: "When you face a team of Al-Hilal's calibre, which is considered one of the strongest teams in Asia, achieving a win also requires a degree of good fortune."
Turning to Saudi coach Mazen Al-Balawi's role within his technical staff, he said: "Mazen is a coach with great ambition, and he works with us and helps the team in a clear way, especially thanks to his experience in dealing with Saudi players."
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