Al-Hilal players celebrate after scoring against Damac.

RIYADH, Aug 29: Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus found himself in a contradiction early this season following Al Hilal's challenging 3-2 victory over Damac in the Saudi Professional League. The season started positively for Al Hilal with a straightforward 3-0 win against Al-Akhdoud last Saturday. However, the team faced difficulties in its subsequent match, narrowly defeating Damac.

After the opening win against Al-Akhdoud, Jesus made statements asserting that his team was unaffected by the absence of any player, referencing its ability to replace Brazilian star Neymar da Silva during the previous season. When asked about the potential impact of Saud Abdul Hamid's departure at that time, Jesus responded, "Al Hilal was not impacted by Abdul Hamid's absence in the match, and we managed to compensate for him effectively."

He continued, "Last season, Neymar da Silva's absence did not affect us, and we were able to cover for him. Similarly, Malcom's absence today was also managed well. The strength of the team lies in its collective performance, which is the key to Al Hilal's success and championship victories." However, Jesus's stance shifted after Al Hilal struggled against Damac. Following the difficult match and delayed result, he acknowledged the impact of player absences on the team's performance.