Gulf Cup
Early goals from Hammam Al Hammami and Feras Al Brikan secured the hosts’ fourth crown, with Donis delighted at how his side overcame the challenges they had faced throughout the tournament.
“We are very happy, and I congratulate the players. This tournament was important for us; I witnessed the players' development and got to know them better, said Donis.
“We faced many difficulties but overcame them; the players consistently demonstrated commitment, and we were the best team in the tournament.”
Donis felt Saudi Arabia’s strong start laid the foundations for their victory, praising his players for delivering despite the challenges.
“We scored early, managed the flow of the match, and created numerous chances. We faced challenges — particularly with Feras, (Mohammed) Kanno and (Salem) Al Dawsari playing heavy minutes amidst pressure and fatigue — yet the players delivered a fantastic performance, and I am delighted to have won the title.”
The Saudi Arabian tactician also paid tribute to the supporters, while stressing the need for continuous improvement with the AFC Asian Cup 2027™ on home soil fast approaching.
“I congratulate the fans; they provided us with excellent support throughout the tournament. I thank everyone who worked on this tournament and everyone who gave me the opportunity to achieve this milestone.
“I always focus on teamwork; we must develop our football and prepare for upcoming challenges.”
Head coach Zlatko Dalic acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s superiority, admitting that his side paid the price for early mistakes.
“I congratulate Saudi Arabia; they deserved to win the title. We conceded two early goals, though we did have chances to score.
“Individual errors were the main reason for our defeat today. After the first 20 minutes, we failed to get back into the game effectively; we should have performed better and applied more pressure.”
Despite the disappointment, Dalic took encouragement from UAE’s overall campaign and said the experience will help his side progress.
“We made major mistakes, but this tournament serves as an opportunity for us to learn and grow. We played a good tournament and overall — setting aside today's match — I am satisfied with our performance.
“We will work with the clubs to develop Emirati football and prepare for upcoming challenges.”
Photos: Saudi Arabia Football Federation
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