Milinkovic-Savic Responds to Criticism of Saudi Arabian Football
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has responded to criticism aimed at Saudi Arabian football following a remarkable victory by Al Hilal over Manchester City in the FIFA Club World Cup. After the intense match ended in a thrilling 4-3 triumph for Al Hilal in Orlando, Milinkovic-Savic, who departed Lazio to join the Saudi Pro League in 2023, challenged detractors by asserting:
“Let’s see now if they will criticise us.”
His comments come amidst a wave of European players migrating to Saudi Arabia, with many seeing the shift as a preference for monetary gain over competitive aspirations in top-tier football.
Team Performance and Future Aspirations
The Serbian midfielder expressed pride in the team’s performance, pointing out their capability to prove the critics wrong.
“We’ve demonstrated that the narratives surrounding the league don’t reflect the reality. Our past games against Real Madrid, Salzburg, Pachuca, and now tonight’s match show our potential. I hope we can continue this trend,”
he stated.
Inzaghi’s Leadership and Respect for Guardiola
Al Hilal’s head coach, Simone Inzaghi, also made the leap from European football, having left Inter Milan shortly after their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League final. Inzaghi, who took charge just weeks before the World Cup, praised his players for their resilience and dedication, stating:
“The players were the key to this incredible result. We knew we had to achieve something extraordinary to challenge Manchester City, akin to climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, and they delivered.”
He further acknowledged the prowess of Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, indicating respect for his tactical acumen while emphasizing that his side earned their victory through hard work and determination.
[Pep] Guardiola is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the world, but tonight, we executed our strategy to perfection and earned the win we deserved,”
Inzaghi remarked.
