2024-01-29 17:08:34
Fernando Santos to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia’s “vision” will lead it to globalization
Former Portugal national team coach Fernando Santos confirmed that Saudi Arabia has a global reputation in football, stressing that the long-term vision and sports investment will contribute to attracting more celebrities to the Saudi League.
The current Turkish Besiktas coach said in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup will have a positive impact on the entire region.
Santos also described the Saudi national team’s performance during the 2022 World Cup finals as dedicated, stressing that scorers Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dosari will be remembered forever. He touched on Ronaldo’s crisis in the Portuguese national team, where he said that “The Don” is the best player in the world, and he is performing at a high level in the Saudi League.
Jesús, Al Hilal coach (Al Hilal Club)
> How do you describe your new training step in the Turkish League? What are the team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League?
Receiving the invitation to lead this giant of Turkish football is a great honor. We were calmly and calmly analyzing the lineup. There’s one thing I’ve always kept in mind as a coach: winning. I’m very ambitious, I’m a coach who builds teams to win, but I realize we’re in the middle of a season where some goals are at play, and we need to be realistic regarding the team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League. When I arrived, the distance to the Champions League was already very long.
> How do you see the future of the Portuguese national team in light of many factors, especially with the Ronaldo era approaching its end and the technical staff changing following years?
I wish the best to the Portuguese national team. It’s my country, and I was very happy while training the team. We managed to become European champions, we won the Nations League and we had great moments. I have a lot of friends there, and I hope they succeed.
Castro, Al-Nasr coach (Al-Nasr Club)
> The fans believe that your relationship with Ronaldo was not good in the last days of the World Cup. Can we know the whole truth?
I already talked regarding this, and I understand that Cristiano was not happy because he started two matches on the bench, but I must say that he had an impeccable attitude towards the team. As shown in the pictures, he celebrated his goals a lot once morest Switzerland, which we won 6-1, and he gave his best when he entered the field. If we had won the quarter-finals, maybe he would have been back in the starting lineup. It was only a tactical decision, and it was also very difficult for me. I had and still have great feelings for him, beyond just football. Today, Ronaldo is back in excellent condition, playing regularly, which did not happen before the World Cup, and scoring many goals. I’m very happy for him.
> From your knowledge and vision, who do you think is the best player in the world?
I have often said and I will say once more: Cristiano Ronaldo is the best of all time.
> I spent nearly 15 years coaching national teams. What are the differences in work between coaching national teams and clubs? They are two different realities with different rhythms and tasks, but each includes very exciting challenges. In national teams, everything is more connected, with less time, and it is often a matter of rehabilitating players physically, and effectively inculcating my ideas in the short time available for training. In clubs, you can do work on a longer scale, we have a team to manage, we know more regarding what we can rely on because in national teams players do not work with us every day, while contact with clubs is constant. In national teams, there is more work in monitoring games than training and playing, while in clubs there are of course a lot of training sessions and matches, and that is what I love to do, which is to coach teams and help them win matches and achieve goals.
Fernando Santos while training the Portuguese national team in the 2022 World Cup (Reuters)
> I was Ronaldo’s supervisor during an ideal period for the player, and without a doubt I saw and followed Messi. With their successful era over, who do you think can fill the void following them?
I really had the pleasure of coaching Ronaldo and leading Portugal to win the only two titles in our history. These are unforgettable moments that we will all remember forever. We are all lucky to be able to watch players like them in action for so long. Even now, they are still playing at a high level, so it is better to focus on that than on their legacy.
> Your teammates Jesus and Castro are competing for championships in Saudi Arabia. Tell us their capabilities and your expectations for them.
I have been following the Saudi League matches, especially following the strong investment made by many clubs. Luis and Jorge are doing a great job because they are excellent coaches. There is also another very good coach, Pedro Emanuel, I know them all well. They are building very competitive teams, and the league will be very interesting to follow.
> Ronaldo, Neves, Otavio – stars of the Portuguese national team in the Saudi League. How did you receive this news?
In Portugal, at first we received the news with some surprise, but it was quickly understood that there was a well-thought-out strategy in the medium and long term. What I know is that the players are happy with the circumstances and the country.
Saudi clubs were active in the summer transfer market and had a significant impact as part of the local league development project. How do you view these steps from your point of view?
Everyone who follows football, like me, knows that there is a tremendous passion for football in the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia is a country with a great tradition and reputation in the region, the AFC, and even at the global level, whether in clubs or in the national teams. This investment by Saudi clubs might be a step to bring more quality and fame to the league.
> In general, how do you see the development in the Saudi League?
Certainly, there are many people outside Saudi Arabia who have begun to pay attention and follow Saudi League matches, and with that comes interest from TV stations and valuable international visibility. Then, in the country itself, the fans, who were busy with their passion for their clubs, will be more enthusiastic, and this will lead to more and more young people participating in and playing football, thus contributing to the development of the sport in the country.> If a club makes you an offer to train in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Which club will you choose?
My full focus currently is on Besiktas, where we want to give our best this season and start laying the foundations for greater competitiveness.
> During the 2022 World Cup, how did you see the Saudi team facing Argentina? Who was the best Saudi player in your opinion?
It was a fantastic match with absolute dedication from everyone on the team. At the risk of being unfair to some of the players, of course, the top scorers, Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dosari, will remain in the memory forever, but other players like Saud Abdul Hamid, Hassan Timbukti, Ali Al Bulayhi and Mohammed Kanno also performed very well.
> Saudi Arabia won the right to host the 2034 World Cup. What do you think regarding this matter? How do you read its influence on Arab football, especially following Qatar’s success in hosting the 2022 World Cup?
I believe that introducing Saudi Arabia is part of the investment strategy in the field of sports in the country, and will certainly be another factor that contributes to the growth and development of football not only in the country, but in the entire region. I got very good information regarding the Saudi Football Federation and the serious and committed way in which they work. This is another sign in a significant growth trend, as many countries and regions of the world want to have a leading role, and shine at the highest level in international football.
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