RIYADH (Saudi Arabia): Al Hilal are determined to continue from where they left off as the reigning AFC Champions League holders get set for the resumption of the Saudi Pro League on Wednesday.
Al Hilal held a six-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League when the tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and head coach Razvan Lucescu said his team are geared up to seal the title for a record-extending 16th time.
With eight matches remaining, Al Hilal resume their campaign with an enticing home clash against defending champions Al Nassr on Wednesday.
“We start the second phase of the season as the champions of Asia, leading the league table with six points and we are in the semi-finals of the King’s Cup,” said Lucescu. “All of this will give us more confidence and determination.”
A tight calendar awaits as the Saudi Pro League is scheduled to end on September 10 with Al Hilal to resume their defence of the AFC Champions League four days later.
“We have trained with huge motivation and determination,” said Lucescu. “We are used to playing matches with the same schedule and we are used to pressure so we know how to deal with this situation.”
Lucescu said the target is not just to win the Saudi Pro League title as he wants Al Hilal to defend the AFC Champions League and win the King’s Cup, with the last of their eight triumphs coming in 2017.
Al Hilal kicked off their defence of the AFC Champions League with wins over Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahr Khodro FC and UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and are scheduled to face Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in a top-of-the-table clash at home on September 14. (Source: AFC)
