Al-Ahli made to ‘suffer’ in retaining Asian Champions League title: Coach

JEDDAH – Al-Ahli had to “suffer” in becoming the first club in more than two decades to win back-to-back Asian Champions League (ACL) Elite titles, their relieved coach said.

The Saudi side, playing at home in Jeddah, had a man sent off before overcoming Japan’s stubborn Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time on April 25.

The defending champions retained the trophy thanks to substitute Feras Al-Buraikan’s 96th-minute goal in front of 58,984 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Al-Ahli had been reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when defender Zakaria Hawsawi was shown a straight red card for violent conduct following a headbutt on Tete Yengi.

“We had opportunities to score but it became harder after Hawsawi was sent off for an unnecessary action,” their German coach Matthias Jaissle said, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website.

“But we showed the right mentality and the players kept believing and that makes me so proud as a coach.

“We talked about it at the break that with a man down we had to suffer more and work harder. However, we have quality players who can make one moment count.”

Winger Riyad Mahrez added: “It was difficult for us again. We like to make it difficult for ourselves.

“Ten against 11 is nearly impossible, I don’t know how we found the strength and the energy but we’ve done it and we’re happy.”

Jaissle admitted that playing in front of a home crowd roaring them on had been significant.

The AFC put the latter rounds of Asia’s top club competition in Jeddah, handing Jeddah-based Al-Ahli a clear advantage like in 2025.

“Obviously a part of it (winning) was because we played here in Jeddah in front of our fans who pushed us and gave us extra energy,” he said.

“To win it back to back is something historic. Feels a bit weird.

“My tank is a bit empty. So much relief because the pressure was on.

“It will take a couple of days for this to sink in.”

Al-Ahli’s fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad were the last to win back-to-back continental titles in 2005.

Meanwhile, Machida’s former high school coach said after the Japanese upstarts suffered a heartbreaking defeat that his team “faced a lot of mental pressure”.

Machida boss Go Kuroda, who spent almost three decades coaching one of Japan’s top high school sides, said playing in front of nearly 60,000 all supporting Al-Ahli was the difference.

“It was a completely away environment for us,” said Kuroda, whose side were making their debut in Asia’s top club competition and were in non-league just over a decade ago.

“The players faced a lot of mental pressure and they tried not to get overwhelmed,” he said, according to the AFC website.

He added: “We tried to come back but couldn’t. We were near, but yet still so far away.”

Kuroda hopes Machida’s fairy-tale run can be the start of something even bigger for the team from Tokyo’s suburbs, who had never played in Japan’s top league until 2024.

“It’s a great achievement that we became finalists,” he said.

“Experience is of course important.” REUTERS, AFP