Reigning Saudi Arabian champion, Al-Ittihad is going through a complicated period, despite flashy recruitment this summer (Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Fabinho, etc.). Only 6th in the Saudi Pro League, the team lost Monday evening in the Asian Champions League against the Iraqis of Al-Qowa Al-Jawija (2-0).
This defeat prompted leaders to trigger the “Eject” button. On
According to certain sources, the 49-year-old Portuguese technician is also paying for his bad relationship with Benzema, the star of his team. The Spanish media Relevo indicates that the tone rose between the two men at half-time of the match against Al-Qowa Al-Jawija, in front of the entire squad. Espirito Santo would have criticized his players for their attitude. The 2022 Ballon d’Or would not have appreciated it and would have made it clear. Benzema emerged victorious from this standoff.
The Zidane dream
Still according to Relevo, the leaders of Al-Ittihad would dream of Zinédine Zidane to succeed the Portuguese who passed through Wolverhampton and briefly by Tottenham, but the hypothesis seems hardly credible. Other French technicians could be probed, like Laurent Blanc, free since his departure from Lyon on September 11.