Al-Ittihad lost 4-1 to Al-Ain of the UAE in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite, and coach Jens Wiesing reacted in the post-match press conference. Wiesing said the team is still in a development phase, took full responsibility and backed his players.
Backing his players
Wiesing said: "I am very happy with the players in my team, and I will defend them to the last breath."
His view on the team's progress
Wiesing said: "This is the same team that began the pre-season preparation period with us, but what has happened from the start of preparation until today? We have developed, and we are not machines to be transformed at the press of a button."
Preparation time and workload
Wiesing said: "Al-Ain had a week to prepare, while we had only three days. Since my arrival, I have seen development in the team, and we have played 18 matches, so managing loads and effort has become extremely important. Small mistakes affect the team, and we must focus on recovery and recuperation, as we still have a great deal of work ahead of us."
Responsibility and the defeat
Wiesing said: "As a coach, I take 100% of the responsibility. In every match that doesn't go well, I take responsibility, and I don't need to repeat that every time."
Wiesing said: "What happened today was not because of the tactics, but it was a night in the AFC Champions League, and we were facing a strong team with great experience in the tournament. We have to be present in all the details and know how to deal with these circumstances."
Wiesing said: "Fatigue affected us, and we could not keep up with the opponent physically. I spoke to the players and told them that if we want to compete we must be better. This is a painful truth, and we must raise our heads and face it."
