Al Shabab are in a race against time.
\nThe \u2018third\u2019 club in Saudi Arabia\u2019s capital city claimed global headlines last January when a free transfer was announced for commanding Argentina midfielder Ever Banega once his contract at Sevilla lapsed. Unquestionably world-class performers at the peak of their game are rarely secured by Asian outfits, let alone ones who claimed the last of six top-flight titles in 2011\/12 and finished a distant seventh in 2019\/20.
\nAn elite acquisition, however, poses its own exacting problems. The 32-year-old has signed up until June 2023 \u2013 there is unlikely to be an extension for the dominant figure in last season\u2019s Europa League final.
\nA side capable of complimenting him and securing glory must be assembled at searing pace.
\nThis fact is why, a creditable, third place in the Saudi Professional League after 11 games and 1-1 draw with holders Al Hilal was no insulation for coach Pedro Caixinha from the sack. Senegalese striker Makhete Diop also continues to receive stern criticism after a paltry return of two goals in 684 minutes.
\nCalls to address these issues will be made in the coming weeks, according to chairman Khaled Al Baltan. There is little room to get them wrong for a side who’ve since moved up to second under caretaker Carlos Hernandez.
\nShabab\u2019s fast track to silverware must, at a minimum, include qualification to the 2022 AFC Champions League \u2013 a tournament they last graced in 2015. Entry guarantees greater riches and prestige, plus momentum.
\nThey sit second, yet one point separates them from fourth-placed Ittihad and three from resurgent fifth-placed challengers Al Wehda. Fine margins, with significant ramifications for being on the wrong side of them.
\nThis is why a reported return for Marius Sumudica makes sense.
\n\u201cI talked to Razvan (Hilal\u2019s Lucescu), I asked for some information,\u201d he told Romania\u2019s Digi Sport prior to this week\u2019s contentious exit from Turkey\u2019s Gaziantep. \u201cTheir [Shabab\u2019s] goal is to qualify for the AFC Champions League \u2013 you are attracted to such a target.\u201d
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by EVER B H (@ever19banega)
\nThe 49-year-old took Shabab to within one game of ACL qualification in 2018\/19, conceding an excellent 25 goals along the way to a deflating fifth-placed finish. It would be his only campaign, to date.
\nExiting minnows Gaziantep when in fourth place has, seemingly, enhanced his reputation in the eyes of Shabab management.
\nSumudica, however, boasts an average win percentage of 42 across an 11-year managerial career and has lifted just two trophies, 2015\/16\u2019s Liga 1 and Cupa Romaniei crowns when at Astra Giurgiu.
\nShould aspirant Shabab aim for more?
\nIf he is rehired, familiarity trumps sprawling success. It may yet be the winning ticket required.
\nUp top, Algeria striker Islam Slimani\u00a0was the name most-strongly linked to Shabab. The unwanted 32-year-old\u00a0failed to kick a ball this term at Leicester City, yet a tally of nine goals and seven assists in 18 Ligue 1 run-outs at Monaco in an abridged 2019\/20 showcases a target of real repute.
\nEven though this trail went cold with Wednesday’s switch to Lyon, encouragement must be taken from the calibre of hit man Shabab are pursuing.
\nFoundations for a competitive side are present. They \u2013 according to Wyscout – boast the division\u2019s joint-second-best attack (19 goals), the sixth-lowest average age (27.7), fifth-highest average possession (53.5 per cent) and joint-fifth-meanest defence (16 goals).
\nNawaf Al Abed has\u00a0helped raise standards\u00a0and centre-back Ahmed Sharahili deservedly made his Saudi debut last year. A contract renewal for 21-year-old international striker Abdullah Al Hamdan is pivotal, if secured.
\nShabab are, almost, back. The next few weeks could decide whether Banega\u2019s stint in the Kingdom is ultimately judged successful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Al Shabab are in a race against time.
\nThe \u2018third\u2019 club in Saudi Arabia\u2019s capital city claimed global headlines last January when a free transfer was announced for commanding Argentina midfielder Ever Banega once his contract at Sevilla lapsed. Unquestionably world-class performers at the peak of their game are rarely secured by Asian outfits, let alone ones who claimed the last of six top-flight titles in 2011\/12 and finished a distant seventh in 2019\/20.
\nAn elite acquisition, however, poses its own exacting problems. The 32-year-old has signed up until June 2023 \u2013 there is unlikely to be an extension for the dominant figure in last season\u2019s Europa League final.
\nA side capable of complimenting him and securing glory must be assembled at searing pace.
\nThis fact is why, a creditable, third place in the Saudi Professional League after 11 games and 1-1 draw with holders Al Hilal was no insulation for coach Pedro Caixinha from the sack. Senegalese striker Makhete Diop also continues to receive stern criticism after a paltry return of two goals in 684 minutes.
\nCalls to address these issues will be made in the coming weeks, according to chairman Khaled Al Baltan. There is little room to get them wrong for a side who\u2019ve since moved up to second under caretaker Carlos Hernandez.
\nShabab\u2019s fast track to silverware must, at a minimum, include qualification to the 2022 AFC Champions League \u2013 a tournament they last graced in 2015. Entry guarantees greater riches and prestige, plus momentum.
\nThey sit second, yet one point separates them from fourth-placed Ittihad and three from resurgent fifth-placed challengers Al Wehda. Fine margins, with significant ramifications for being on the wrong side of them.
\nThis is why a reported return for Marius Sumudica makes sense.
\n\u201cI talked to Razvan (Hilal\u2019s Lucescu), I asked for some information,\u201d he told Romania\u2019s Digi Sport prior to this week\u2019s contentious exit from Turkey\u2019s Gaziantep. \u201cTheir [Shabab\u2019s] goal is to qualify for the AFC Champions League \u2013 you are attracted to such a target.\u201d
\n View this post on Instagram A post shared by EVER B H (@ever19banega)
\nThe 49-year-old took Shabab to within one game of ACL qualification in 2018\/19, conceding an excellent 25 goals along the way to a deflating fifth-placed finish. It would be his only campaign, to date.
\nExiting minnows Gaziantep when in fourth place has, seemingly, enhanced his reputation in the eyes of Shabab management.
\nSumudica, however, boasts an average win percentage of 42 across an 11-year managerial career and has lifted just two trophies, 2015\/16\u2019s Liga 1 and Cupa Romaniei crowns when at Astra Giurgiu.
\nShould aspirant Shabab aim for more?
\nIf he is rehired, familiarity trumps sprawling success. It may yet be the winning ticket required.
\nUp top, Algeria striker Islam Slimani\u00a0was the name most-strongly linked to Shabab. The unwanted 32-year-old\u00a0failed to kick a ball this term at Leicester City, yet a tally of nine goals and seven assists in 18 Ligue 1 run-outs at Monaco in an abridged 2019\/20 showcases a target of real repute.
\nEven though this trail went cold with Wednesday\u2019s switch to Lyon, encouragement must be taken from the calibre of hit man Shabab are pursuing.
\nFoundations for a competitive side are present. They \u2013 according to Wyscout \u2013 boast the division\u2019s joint-second-best attack (19 goals), the sixth-lowest average age (27.7), fifth-highest average possession (53.5 per cent) and joint-fifth-meanest defence (16 goals).
\nNawaf Al Abed has\u00a0helped raise standards\u00a0and centre-back Ahmed Sharahili deservedly made his Saudi debut last year. A contract renewal for 21-year-old international striker Abdullah Al Hamdan is pivotal, if secured.
\nShabab are, almost, back. The next few weeks could decide whether Banega\u2019s stint in the Kingdom is ultimately judged successful.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22304"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22304"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22305,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22304\/revisions\/22305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}