Al-Ahli suffer third loss in six rounds, coach Pusic sees positive signal in players' on-field clash

Al-Ahli endured a difficult evening at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium as they suffered a 2-3 defeat against Al-Qadisiyah in round six of the Saudi Roshn League. The result left Marino Pusic’s side seventh with nine points and condemned them to their third loss in only six opening matches. The talking point was not just the scoreline, however, but the way Pusic described the contest: the harsh weather, minor refereeing observations, missed chances in the second half, and especially the heated exchange between Ivan Toney and Mohammed Abdulrahman during the cooling break. The home team started confidently and tried to control the tempo of the game. Yet against an Al-Qadisiyah side described as strong and stable, their plan did not work as intended. Pusic later said the weather was a major disruptive factor in the early phase. He made clear that the weather was not an excuse for everything, but it did affect the flight of the ball, the players’ vision and the rhythm of their movement. It was also the period when Al-Qadisiyah took advantage to score late in the first half, making the match complicated. Despite trailing, Al-Ahli responded strongly after the break. They pressed higher, moved the ball faster and created more clear chances. Two goals came as a consequence of that determination, but the home side also had at least two other good opportunities that could have changed the outcome. Pusic admitted his players fought seriously and deserved better. The inability to find an equalizer came from a mix of poor finishing and luck. The team pushed forward, accepted spaces behind their defence, but still ended the match on the losing side. The most notable moment, though, was not a goal. During a cooling break around the middle of the second half, Ivan Toney and Mohammed Abdulrahman were involved in a visible altercation. Pusic explained it as a natural situation among players driven by the pressure of the game, not a sign of division in the dressing room. He did not treat it as a negative disciplinary issue. Instead, he saw it as something positive because it showed that his players have strong personalities and all want to win. In his view, a team without such moments can sometimes lack the competitive fire needed in big matches. Pusic also said he had witnessed similar incidents at many previous clubs. In elite football, arguments between teammates are not rare. The real challenge is to manage them without damaging team spirit. He chose to steer the message in a constructive direction: instead of suppressing the moment, he used it to reinforce the idea that the squad is hungry for results. Such an approach might not bring points immediately, but it can help the dressing room avoid a negative atmosphere after a series of inconsistent outcomes. Looking at the bigger picture, Al-Ahli’s record after six rounds does not match the potential of their squad. Three wins, three losses, nine points and a seventh-place position put them in the middle of the table, not yet in crisis but not where a club of their stature expects to be. If this pattern continues, the pressure will increase. Pusic’s calm tone during the press conference, however, suggests he is trying to keep everyone focused rather than reacting emotionally. One point of interest was his repeated mention of the weather as a disrupting factor. This is a reasonable explanation in Saudi Arabia, where climate conditions can change the rhythm of games. But relying too much on external reasons without finding tactical solutions could be dangerous. Al-Ahli need to develop a different approach for difficult conditions instead of depending on a second-half surge. Another detail was his small observation about refereeing. He did not turn it into direct criticism or use it as an excuse. That may be a quiet message to the league, but it also helps shift attention away from the flaws in his team’s performance. In the short term, it protects the players from heavy mental pressure. In the long term, the coaching staff must look at match data and improve their ability to convert chances into goals. The game underlined the gap between a stable side and a team still searching for balance. Al-Qadisiyah looked secure in their structure and did not panic in difficult moments. They were not necessarily dominant but knew how to take advantage of key moments. Al-Ahli showed they can break down defensive blocks, but their defending and game management in the first half were not good enough to keep them from chasing the match. Saudi football is heavily invested and expectations at big clubs are high. With a squad full of talent and quality foreign players, Pusic knows the clock is already ticking. Three defeats in six rounds create pressure, even if they are not a full alarm. The real test is how the team reacts in the next fixtures. The most important thing is not the outcome of one match, but whether Al-Ahli have learned how to handle difficult periods inside a game. From a tactical perspective, this loss is another reminder that patience matters. When a team pushes forward to find an equalizer, they must accept the risk of counter-attacks. Al-Ahli could choose a more direct approach, using long passes and the physical strength of their strikers to attack spaces behind the opponent’s defence. But that requires coordination and a clear plan for occupying midfield spaces. Pusic appears determined to build a team with mental strength rather than chase short-term results. He was not afraid to turn a negative incident into a positive story about fighting spirit. This might be his way of shielding the squad from outside noise and keeping the dressing room united during a difficult start. The Bosnian coach has seen many leagues and understand that constructive responses are more valuable than complaints. For Al-Ahli supporters, losing three of six matches is hard to accept when the club has such high ambitions. But the season is still long. Seventh place is not a true reflection of their ability, but it does reflect a lack of consistency. A win in the next round could change the whole mood. On the other hand, if the team drops more points, the positive spirit story will quickly lose its credibility. When the media only care about results, Pusic’s comments are a reminder that football is not only about winning and losing. Building a group with strong personalities, willing to face pressure, is sometimes more important than taking three points in a single game. If those positive signals are transformed into consistent performances, Al-Ahli can certainly climb the table. Their recovery in the second half was proof of their refusal to give up, but modern football needs more than that to compete at the top of the Roshn League. The next question is whether Pusic can find better tactical solutions before another setback. Will he stay loyal to his possession-based philosophy, or will he adapt to the realities of the squad and the league? The decisions made in the coming rounds will answer that question far better than any positive words spoken after the match.