Al-Hilal's Performance Review: Inzaghi's Insights on Wobbles and Future Prospects
Al-Hilal’s fast start, sudden wobble and simmering subplots gave Filippo Inzaghi plenty to chew on after a wild contest with Al-Faisaly.
His side looked out of sight by half-time, three goals clear and cruising. The football was sharp, the movement slick, the crowd relaxed. Then the restart blew the game open.
A sharp drop in intensity let Al-Faisaly back in, two goals flying in within five chaotic minutes and turning a procession into a test of nerve.
“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,” Inzaghi told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, laying the blame squarely on the dip rather than the game plan.
He did not spare himself or his staff 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,” the Italian added, making it clear he sees the slump as a shared responsibility.
Theo’s wait, Malcom’s future
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.
“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,” Inzaghi explained. No mystery, just fitness and timing.
On the opposite flank of the squad planning sits Malcom, whose name keeps surfacing in the transfer rumour mill, with links to newly promoted Al-Diriyah in the Roshn League.
“Malcom put in an excellent performance, and he must continue to deliver at this level,” Inzaghi said, before quickly drawing a line under the speculation. “I do not want to talk about the transfer window, because that is a matter for the sporting management.”
The message was clear: judge Malcom on the pitch, leave the rest upstairs.
Benzema flashpoint and the kids’ path
There was also the inevitable question about Karim Benzema, who reacted sharply to being substituted in the 70th minute. A player of his stature leaving early rarely passes quietly.
Asked what was said between them after the final whistle, Inzaghi played it down.
“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.”
No public reprimand, no escalation. Just a reminder that Benzema’s edge comes from his obsession with being where it matters.
Inzaghi finished by turning to the future and the younger faces pushing from below.
“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.
A team that can race into a three-goal lead, wobble, and still win will always draw scrutiny. The real question now is whether Inzaghi can turn those volatile 90 minutes into a stable, ruthless machine before the season’s pressure truly bites.
