En-Nesyri’s goal sparks criticism of Koulibaly after the Classic

“Koulibaly suffers from tactical Alzheimer’s”: Abdullah Fallatah’s phrase fuelled mockery of the Senegalese defender after the eighth-round Saudi Pro League Roshn Classic. Al-Ittihad lost 3-2 to Al-Hilal, and the build-up to Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal put Koulibaly’s positioning at the heart of the criticism.

The Moroccan forward escaped his marker before reaching the ball in a position to shoot. His goal prompted comments about how Al-Hilal’s defence dealt with his movement. Fallatah also criticised the team’s display and Koulibaly’s defensive errors, questioning the defender’s concentration.

“The coach’s management of Al-Ittihad’s match today was not good, and Koulibaly suffers from tactical Alzheimer’s; if the Al-Ittihad coach had played with two forwards, Al-Ittihad would have benefited more,” Fallatah said during an appearance on the Saudi network Thmanyah. The phrase was part of his pointed assessment of the defender’s performance.

Analyst Abdu Ateef also held Koulibaly responsible for En-Nesyri’s goal. In his view, the defender’s poor positioning gave the Al-Ittihad forward the chance to play the ball and shoot, exposing a failure to manage the opposition’s movement.

The incident reopened debate over the role expected of Koulibaly in Al-Hilal’s defence, where his experience and solidity are especially important in major matches. Forwards of En-Nesyri’s calibre can punish a positional mistake without needing many chances: the Classic offered an example, while Al-Ittihad’s defeat gave fresh ammunition to those questioning the Senegalese defender’s display.