Al-Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi has described his team’s dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory over Manchester City in the Club World Cup as “climbing Mount Everest without oxygen,” hailing the performance as one of extraordinary effort and determination.
The Saudi Arabian club stunned fans worldwide by eliminating Pep Guardiola’s City side in a thrilling last-16 clash in Orlando on Tuesday night. Marcos Leonardo scored the decisive goal in the 112th minute, sending Al-Hilal through to the quarter-finals, where they will face Brazilian champions Fluminense on Friday.
Speaking after the match, Inzaghi praised his players for their passion and discipline, noting that the result was made possible through sheer commitment and tactical excellence.
“We had to do something extraordinary tonight, we all know the kind of team Manchester City is,” Inzaghi told reporters. “This win was like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen. The players gave everything their hearts, their energy, their intelligence.”
He continued: “We were very organised both with and without the ball. Technically, we played an excellent game against one of the most aggressive and possession-dominant teams in the world.”
Inzaghi also acknowledged the tactical battle against Pep Guardiola, whom he called the best coach in the world, saying: “Guardiola is a genius of modern football. But tonight, my team gave their best, and I believe we earned this victory.”
Al-Hilal, now backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund since 2023, have bolstered their squad with several high-profile international stars, including Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and Kalidou Koulibaly, a strategy that appears to be paying off in their quest for global recognition.
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