Gabriel Martinelli Shines in Al-Hilal's New Attack

Simone Inzaghi already has a clear picture of his new-look Al-Hilal attack — and Gabriel Martinelli is right at the heart of it.

The Italian coach confirmed he plans to pair the Brazilian with Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville, using their shared comfort on the left to give his front line a sharp, unpredictable edge.

Martinelli’s first taste of Riyadh

Martinelli made his Al-Hilal debut on Friday night, stepping off the bench in a 2-0 Riyadh derby win over Al-Shabab at SHG Arena, a result that kept Al-Hilal perfect after five rounds of the Saudi Roshn League.

He did not start, but he did get a tactical tour of his new home. Inzaghi first sent him out on the right, then flipped him to the left once Sabri Dahl entered the pitch.

Asked after the game which of Summerville or Martinelli would claim the right flank in the coming weeks, Inzaghi refused to lock either into one side.

“Both players can play on the right side with complete ease,” he said. “Today we brought Martinelli in on the right, and after (Sabri) Dahl came on I sent him to play on the left side, and they will be rotated in the upcoming matches.”

Rotation, not rivalry. That is the message.

Market open, defense on his mind

While the attack looks stocked, Inzaghi’s gaze keeps drifting backward.

“The market is still open, and the sporting management is doing a great job in the transfer market,” he explained. “We have a need in the defensive line, and we are working on that.”

The defensive concern is not theoretical. It is rooted in absences, fatigue and a right-back spot that keeps demanding solutions.

“We were very focused, we came out strong and controlled the atmosphere of the match,” Inzaghi said of the win over Al-Shabab. “We came back from the Al-Ahli fixture with our energy drained, and today we faced a very strong team in midfield and attack.”

The result never really slipped from their grasp, but the coach did not hide the strain on his back line.

Right-back headache and makeshift fixes

“We have a kind of struggle in the right-back position,” he admitted. One name, though, has eased the tension.

“I have been monitoring (Mohammed) Mahzari since last season, and he has covered a lot of the shortfall in this position. He is a great player who gives everything he has.”

Mahzari is not the only internal patch. Inzaghi is effectively building a pool for that role.

“We are waiting for the return of Hamad Al-Yami, and we are also working on preparing Sabri Dahl to be a player in the same position, even though his position is right wing.”

Dahl, a winger by trade, is being reshaped into a defensive option. Needs must when the schedule bites and the squad thins.

Tambakti managed, Lajami sidelined

That same pragmatism guided the handling of Hassan Tambakti.

The defender, just back from a two-month layoff, started but did not finish. Inzaghi moved quickly to calm any fears.

“After his two-month injury, he took part in five training sessions and wanted to feature in the Al-Ahli match, but he played today, and his substitution was not due to injury, only because of fatigue.”

The news is less positive for Ali Lajami.

“Ali Lajami is injured, we hope he returns as soon as possible. We have a struggle in the defensive line, and we are trying to cover this shortfall, and we have Meshaal Al-Dawood.”

It is a thin group at the back, and Inzaghi knows it. The transfer window, he hopes, will do the rest.

Top of the table, with pressure building

For now, the league table offers comfort. Five games, five wins. Fifteen points. Al-Hilal sit three clear of Al-Nassr, who still have to navigate a demanding clasico against Al-Ittihad on Saturday.

Inzaghi has his attack humming, his wingers rotating and his ideas taking shape.

If the club can match that with the defensive reinforcements he wants, how long can anyone keep pace with Al-Hilal?