Mancini and the “Green Seniors”… Temporary exclusion or a permanent approach?

Less than two months before the start of the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, the Italian Roberto Mancini, the coach of the Saudi national team, sent a message from underwater to the Al-Akhdar stars who were excluded from the current November camp, which gives clear indications that he is adopting a different and exceptional line from those who preceded him in leading Al-Akhdar. Under the broad title “Survival is only for the most worthy.”

The Saudi national team is in Group 6 of the 2023 Asian Cup, which also includes the teams of Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Oman.

Mancini had decided to exclude the trio, Mohammed Kanno, Sultan Al-Ghannam, and Firas Al-Braikan, from Al-Akhdar’s list to face Pakistan and Jordan in the second stage of the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.

Muhammad Kanno (29 years old) has 46 matches in his international record with Al-Akhdar, while Sultan Al-Ghannam (29 years old) represented the national team in 29 matches, compared to 36 matches for Firas Al-Braikan (23 years old).

Mancini hinted at the lack of physical readiness of the excluded players, as he said in the press conference that preceded the last confrontation with Pakistan: “During this stage, we preferred to call up players who were completely ready. We need players who are ready to fight for the national team’s logo.”

He added: “I believe that now is an appropriate time to call up new players for the future. We have seen many players during the last period with the national team, and I believe that we have talented up-and-coming players, but the door is open for everyone to join the national team.”

National coach Youssef Al-Ghadeer believes that it is too early to know what Mancini wants after the exclusion of a number of the Green Stars in the last camp.

Al-Ghadeer said, in exclusive statements to Asharq Al-Awsat: “The coach has the right to carry out the process of replacing, strengthening, or even building a new team.”

He added: “Al-Akhdar won over Pakistan in the presence of new elements. Saudi football is a birth and new players can be produced. As for the exclusion of experienced players such as Muhammad Kanno, Sultan Al-Ghannam and Firas Al-Braikan, there may be different reasons for it.”

He explained: “The coach may have preferred to rest them and try new elements due to the ease of the competitors at this stage, and it is possible that the coach decided to rely on new players, but the matter is still unclear.”

He continued: “The process of replacement and renewal in national teams at the world level is usually gradual, and this is the tradition of the national teams. We have many entitlements during the coming period and the vision will certainly be clear.”

He continued: “The identity of the team under Mancini’s leadership is not yet clear, given that he assumed technical responsibility a short time ago, but I have full confidence in him. He is a great coach and able to make his mark, and our team is also great and capable of success.”

He continued: “I hope that some of the excluded players will return in the future with some new elements to reach a team that has a mix of experience and youth that will help us achieve our goals, whether in the Asian Cup or qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.”

Saudi coach Bandar Al-Juaithen confirmed in a previous statement to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Italian Mancini began from day one to draw up a short- and long-term approach and plan, as there is great work awaiting the experienced coach.

He added: “When the Saudi team wins over Pakistan, this is a natural thing and cannot make us talk about many technical aspects because the competing team is not considered one of the elite of the Asian continent, but we can talk more about the psychological gains in light of the creation of a new team that includes a large number of young names.” And experienced stars, as this approach can give a very positive indication that the work for today and the future is better for the Saudi national team.”

He added: “About 5 names of experienced players participated in the Pakistan match, starting with goalkeeper Muhammad Al Owais, passing through Ali Al Bulayhi, Hassan Timbukti, Saud Abdul Hamid, and ending with striker Saleh Al Shehri. These names, at least, participated on many occasions, including the last World Cup in 2022, and therefore it is possible He described them as experienced stars, and there are young names such as Aoun Al-Salouli, Moaz Faqihi, Abdullah Radif, Muhammad Maran and others, and this gives an indication that there is a gradual renewal in the ranks of the Saudi national team for the sake of continuity and instilling competition among the players, and this is very important in the next stage.

Mancini is known to not call up stars if they are not participating and ready, and he previously did that with the Italian national team, as he did not call up the duo Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamaca for the same reason.

Mancini said at the time in this regard: “Raspadori is an important player for us, but he does not play much… The same goes for Scamaka, who is returning from an injury and who does not play either. “Both of them can only improve if they participate.”

Mancini summoned a number of young faces, such as Moaz Faqihi (21 years old), Abbas Al-Hassan (19 years old), Eid Al-Mawlid (22 years old), and Talal Haji (16 years old).

Mancini is not bothered by constantly summoning new players to the camp of the national team he coaches, as he summoned more than 100 players during his period of training for the Italian national team.

The main body of Mancini on the Green list is 11 players who were called up for the September, October and November camps, regardless of the exclusion of some of them later due to injury.

This list includes Muhammad Al-Owais, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Raghed Al-Najjar, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Abdul-Ilah Al-Omari, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Hassan Timbukti, Ali Hazazi, Saud Abdul Hamid, Salem Al-Dosari, Nasser Al-Dosari, and Abdul Rahman Gharib.

Mancini is looking forward to reaching the 2023 Asian Cup, which starts in Qatar early next year, and Al-Akhdar is fully prepared.

Mancini said after the victory over Pakistan: “I have enough time to prepare for the Asian Cup finals, and unexpected things happen in these combined tournaments.”

Al-Akhdar has previously won the Asian Cup 3 times in 1984, 1988, and 1996, and hopes to win the Asian Cup 27 years after the last time it won.

Al-Akhdar is preparing to face Jordan in the second round of the second round of the qualifiers, as it will be a guest next Tuesday in the match hosted by the “Amman International Stadium.”

The Green Mission will depart on Monday morning for Jordan via a private plane from Al-Ahsa.

The Saudi national team leads Group Seven after defeating Pakistan 4-0, which also includes Jordan and Tajikistan, whose match ended in a 1-1 draw.