Al-Hilal's Dramatic Win Over Al-Faisaly Raises Questions

Al-Hilal’s rollercoaster win over Al-Faisaly left more questions than the 3-2 scoreline suggested, and Simone Inzaghi did not try to hide from them.

His side walked off at half-time three goals up and cruising. The game looked done. The tempo was high, the combinations sharp, and Al-Faisaly were chasing shadows.

Then the drop.

A flat second half invited pressure, and Al-Faisaly pounced with two quick goals in five chaotic minutes to turn a procession into a nervous finish.

Speaking to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Inzaghi cut straight to the point. “In the first half we played wonderfully, and in the second half there was a lack of output from some of the players, but we can improve that,” he said.

He did not pin it solely on his squad, either. “In the second half there was a drop in level, and this is something we suffered from as a coaching staff, but we always work to make our fans happy.”

Theo’s wait, Malcom’s noise

One of the big talking points around Al-Hilal has been the continued absence of Theo Hernandez, who has been training but is yet to feature.

Inzaghi laid out the reasoning. “Theo Hernandez arrived late to the group, and did not get a sufficient number of training sessions, and soon we will see him with the team,” he explained, hinting that the French full-back’s debut is a matter of conditioning, not controversy.

On the other flank of the squad debate sits Malcom. The Brazilian winger has been linked with a move to newly promoted Al-Diriyah in the Roshn League during the current summer transfer window, but Inzaghi kept his answers tight.

“Malcom put in an excellent performance, and he must continue to deliver at this level,” he said, before drawing a clear line. “I do not want to talk about the transfer window, because that is a matter for the sporting management.”

Benzema flashpoint

The other flash of drama came on the touchline. Karim Benzema, substituted in the 70th minute, did not hide his frustration, sparking a storm of reaction around the club.

Inzaghi downplayed any notion of a rift. Asked what was said between them after the match, he replied: “It was a conversation between a coach and his player, which included some banter and talk about the course of the match. As a striker, he always works to be present in attacking situations.”

The message was clear: a competitive forward, a coach demanding control, and a discussion that stays in the dressing room.

Youth on the horizon

Amid the noise of late goals, transfer talk and star names, Inzaghi also made sure to shine a light on the next wave.

“We have players of a high level, and Sabri Dahl will get his chance in the future, him and the rest of the young players,” he said.

Al-Hilal escaped with the win this time. The question now is whether that second-half slump becomes a warning they heed, or a pattern that defines their season.