BOLA traveled with the invitation of the Saudi league to Riyadh to learn about the reality of football that is increasingly on the lips of the world. Jorge Jesus is committed to Saudi football, but he does not forget Portugal. Not Brazil
Jorge Jesus is an incredible coach in Saudi Arabia. AN Al Hilal he only knows how to win at the start of the 2024/2025 season: he has already won the Super Cup; he has four wins in the League; victory for the Asian Champions League and another victory for the Saudi King’s Cup. At the stadium where he trains every day, we were greeted by Jorge Jesus, who made it a point to accept the challenge to talk about what is in his soul in Arab lands and to make it clear that he will only return to Portugal when whose career will be over. . However, there is a dream trip to Brazil that I would like to make come true. Interview with AND HEALTHY and Maisfutebol with the always popular Jorge Jesus.
What country is this, what Al Hilal Is this the one who loves him in this way that we have all seen?
I have to answer in two ways, talking about the country and also about sports. Saudi Arabia is a big country, a country where there are rules and it is safe. In Europe none of this exists anymore, a country where all citizens feel safe. It is a country with great potential for evolution. I think that Saudi Arabia, in the next 10 years, should be a country, not only for football, but for any activity in the world, to pay attention to it. Funnily enough, I’m at a club where I’ve been for five years. It has improved structurally, it has a good president, it has a CEO who was already in my time, who over the years has created the most organized team, not only in Saudi Arabia , but also in Asia. And then what makes the difference: the players. I have good players who help to appreciate the coach, in this case, me. After what we have achieved in the past, this year we cannot do better, we can only do the same, in the competitions in Saudi Arabia. The only tournament we didn’t win was the Asian Champions League, we lost in the semi-final. We won all the time trials in Saudi Arabia, that’s three. I’m in love, as I’ve always been, with football, that’s what makes me love training every day, working with my players . I am passionate about what I do, and not everyone is lucky enough to do what they love. I have had this pleasure, since I was 14 years old, and I am happy with sports for what I do.
The truth is that this challenge is increasing, because there are more and more quality players here as well.
Yes. This competition gets stronger every year. Each team has ten foreigners, all, or almost all, from the national teams of their countries. It is a very strong competition, sometimes, when I watch Portuguese television, I see people wanting to compare this competition with the Portuguese competition, as if there is some kind of comparison. Comparison is not possible.
Why?
For the players who play here. The ones who make quality football are the players and the players here are the best… Not all of them, but most of them are high quality players , so football must be at a high level. Then there are stadiums with very good pitches and which provide good conditions for fans to watch their games. These are high quality stadiums. Comparison is not possible. Anyone who wants to compare the Portuguese championship to the Saudi championship is just saying it because they don’t know.
We were with the CEO of SPL (Saudi Pro League) and said that the Portuguese must be proud of Jorge Jesus and Cristiano Ronaldo left the country and came here. Do you feel this recognition from the Saudis?
I don’t have much of a social life outside of football, that is, my life is practical Al Hilal and the shape in which I live. Now, this is what I noticed this year when many Portuguese coaches came to Saudi Arabia. For example, in the second division, there are seven Portuguese coaches in Saudi Arabia. This is also a financially attractive market, but this is nothing new to me, as this has already been the case in Brazil. Today there are several Portuguese coaches in Brazil, and it was I, in quotes, who opened the door for Portuguese coaches. But, in my social life I don’t feel that. I feel this because I understand the Portuguese coaches who are in Brazil today, and those in Saudi Arabia. Now, day by day, I have no idea about that.
“For me, my country is always the most beautiful”
In the social life you may not feel this, but anyone who walks through these streets of Riyadh will pass a big advertisement, on a path, with your image. This also confirms the weight he already has here.
Yes, that’s it, but I don’t know how important I could be socially. Fun I know. I know that, and I’m also at a club that has more fans. AN Al Hilal the club in Saudi Arabia with the largest number of fans. I also feel this the few times I walk down the street. Not on the street, because here you can’t walk on the street in the heat. Here you can only ride in the car, in the mall, indoors or anywhere else where there is air conditioning. [Risos] This is during the day, because at night you can. Riyadh is a beautiful city, especially at night. They talk about Saudi Arabia and it seems like this is a big deal, from the time when there were only camels and sand in the desert. This is nothing, this is a big country, a big city, with all the best things in it. But, I will never forget my roots, it’s my country my country. This is where I want to live again, where I have my family and friends. Other countries may have very beautiful things, but for me my country is always so beautiful.
They talk about Saudi Arabia and it seems like this is a big deal, from the time when there were only camels and sand in the desert. It is nothing like that, this is a big country, a big city, with all the best things that can be there.
news-item-description ellipsis-2-line">An interview with a Portuguese coach in Riyadh, about Saudi and Portuguese football
news-item-description ellipsis-2-line">BOLA went to Riyadh on the invitation of the Saudi league and at the AL Hilal stadium Jorge Jesus showed himself to have surrendered to Saudi football, he confessed his desire for Portugal and a dream to be called the Brazilian team
2024-09-26 06:00:00
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