Greg . 1 week ago

Inzaghi says Al Hilal's surprise victory over Man City like 'climbing Mount Everest lacking oxygen'

Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi likened his side's surprise 4-3 extra-time victory over Manchester City in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup to "climbing Mount Everest lacking oxygen" after the Saudi side booked an unexpected berth in the quarter-finals.

Inzaghi's side will face Brazil's Fluminense in the last eight on Friday after Marcos Leonardo scored a 112th minute winner for the Riyadh-based club to eliminate Pep Guardiola's squad at the end of a seven-strike epic in Orlando.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANTAl-Hilal have been majority-owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund since 2023 and over the last two years have invested heavily in big-name foreign signings with Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly.

KEY QUOTESAl-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said: "The key to this outcome was the stars, and the heart they put on the pitch tonight.

We had to do something extraordinary since we every know Manchester City, that squad.

"We had to climb Mount Everest lacking oxygen and we made it.

Every the stars were exceptional in everything, in the control phase, the non-control phase.

"We were very well organised in control and we played well from a technical point of view versus a squad which is really aggressive and tough in control.

"(Pep) Guardiola, I believe, is the best coach in the world, but tonight we did our best and I believe we deserve this outcome.

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