Renard: "We Faced a Complicated Match Against Palestine, and the Disallowed Penalty Decision Was Not Fortunate in My Opinion"

Frenchman Hervé Renard, coach of the Saudi national team, expressed his immense satisfaction at reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 Arab Cup, following a tough 2-1 victory over Palestine. He affirmed that his players delivered a performance befitting their technical quality and aspirations in the tournament.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Renard stated that qualification was deserved despite the match's difficulty. He explained: "We are very happy to reach the semi-finals. The players showed a fighting performance and high spirit, and this is what helped us decide the match."

The French coach congratulated the Palestinian national team on their strong display, remarking: "Palestine played wonderfully and deserves all credit. The match changed after the goal was scored, and the tempo and competition among the players significantly increased."

Renard explained that the encounter witnessed complex moments, especially after the 65th minute, before the introduction of Abdulrahman Al-Aboud helped improve performance and create superiority on the field. He said: "We gradually regained our strength and succeeded in imposing our style. The first half was difficult, but we maintained focus until the end."

Renard also addressed the refereeing aspect, confirming his reservations about some decisions. He stated: "Refereeing is there to protect the players, but what happened with the disallowed penalty was not a fortunate decision in my opinion."

The Saudi coach also stressed that the limited participation of some national team players in the league affects their physical continuity, adding that this is a gap that needs to be addressed in the future to ensure higher readiness for international players.

Regarding the upcoming semi-final opponent, whether Jordan or Iraq, Renard said: "I know both teams well. Regardless of the opponent, the match will be difficult. We will analyze the performance, and our goal is clear: to win and qualify for the final."

The French coach indicated that Salem Al-Dawsari's absence in the Morocco match was due to his need for rest to regain his energy, emphasizing the importance of his impact within the squad: "The talent Salem possesses makes a difference in matches like these."