Renard Jokingly: "Al-Salami is a Close Friend, But His Arab Cup Journey Must Conclude Here"

French coach Hervé Renard, manager of the Saudi national team, spoke about the importance of fan support ahead of their match against Jordan, scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, in the Arab Cup semi-finals.

During the press conference held on Sunday, Renard highlighted the significant role played by Saudi fans, particularly during the quarter-final match against Palestine. He expressed his players' desire to reward this strong presence by securing a spot in the final.

The "Green Falcons" coach affirmed that the encounter with Jordan would be extremely difficult, given the Jordanian team's demonstrated strength in attacking transitions and solid defensive organization throughout their tournament campaign. He stressed that securing victory would require high concentration and effective utilization of the individual capabilities of Saudi players.

Renard also touched upon his relationship with Moroccan coach Jamal Al-Salami, stating that facing him was not a surprise and describing him as one of his closest friends, recalling the period they worked together on the Moroccan national team's technical staff. Renard praised Al-Salami's abilities and technical choices, as well as his prominent role in guiding Jordan to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, before jokingly remarking: “But his journey must end here.”

Regarding the Saudi national team benefiting from an extra rest day, in addition to the absence of Jordanian star Yazan Al-Naimat due to injury, Renard expressed regret over the player's injury, wishing him a speedy recovery, while affirming that injuries remain a part of football. Renard recalled the Saudi team's previous struggle with Salman Al-Faraj's injury, noting that Jordan's attacking prowess would remain strong despite this absence, necessitating caution and vigilance.

Concluding his remarks, Renard commented on the criticism he has faced from some media outlets, asserting that he deals with it naturally, considering it part of his duties, and that his constant focus is on delivering the best possible performance with the Saudi national team.