Al-Hilal’s head coach Simone Inzaghi described his team’s 4-3 extra-time victory over Premier League giants Manchester City as akin to “climbing Mount Everest without oxygen.” The pulsating round of 16 clash, played in front of 42,311 fans at Camping World Stadium, saw the Saudi Pro League side eliminate one of the tournament favorites, marking a significant achievement for Inzaghi, who recently took charge of Al-Hilal after leaving Inter Milan.
Inzaghi was effusive in his praise for his players, emphasizing their heart and determination as the key to overcoming Pep Guardiola’s formidable City side. “The key to this result was the players, the heart they put on the pitch tonight. We knew we had to do something extraordinary because we all know Manchester City, that team,” Inzaghi said in his post-match press conference. He highlighted the monumental effort required to defeat a team known for its possession-based, aggressive style, noting, “We knew how good Manchester City are. We had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, and we were great.”
The Italian tactician, who faced Guardiola previously in the 2023 Champions League final with Inter Milan, acknowledged the challenge posed by City’s high defensive line and relentless attacking play. Inzaghi’s strategic adjustments at halftime, shifting Al-Hilal to a more confident counterattacking stance, proved decisive. Players like Marcos Leonardo, who scored twice, including the decisive goal in the 112th minute, and goalkeeper Yassine Bono, who made 10 saves, were instrumental in capitalizing on City’s defensive vulnerabilities. “The lads were simply wonderful,” Inzaghi added, crediting their resilience and clinical finishing despite City completing 390 passes in the final third compared to Al-Hilal’s 46.
Inzaghi also reflected on the broader significance of the win, suggesting it was a statement against the notion that financial power guarantees success. According to posts on X, Inzaghi remarked, “I am very proud of the team, we showed Manchester City and Chelsea you can’t win anything with billions of money.” This sentiment underscores the magnitude of Al-Hilal’s achievement, especially given their underdog status against a City side that had cruised through the group stage with a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus.
The victory propels Al-Hilal into the quarterfinals, where they will face Brazil’s Fluminense, who earlier eliminated Inzaghi’s former club, Inter Milan. For Inzaghi, this triumph marks a moment of redemption following Inter’s 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the recent Champions League final. “Tonight we had to do something sensational,” he reiterated, praising his team’s ability to seize their seven key chances despite an unfavorable expected goals (xG) statistic.