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RIYADH: The new Roshn Saudi League season begins this week with three of the country’s biggest clubs preparing for what promises to be the most competitive campaign yet.

Reigning champions Al-Ittihad open their title defense on Saturday away to Al-Akhdoud, but coach Laurent Blanc has warned that the challenge of repeating last year’s domestic double will be even tougher.

“We feel very good about starting a new season, especially after the success of the previous one,” Blanc said.

“From the first day of pre-season, I told my players that the 2025–26 season would be much more difficult than 2024–25. Why? Because all our opponents will want to beat us. And that’s normal. Just as last year we wanted to beat everyone, this year we are the team to beat.

“That’s something we have to accept. We must prepare well, individually and collectively, and the preparation has gone very well. If we are not ready mentally to face these opponents, the season will be complicated. So we have to prepare properly and be ready,” he added.

Blanc, who was named Coach of the Year after his debut campaign in Jeddah, stressed that personal accolades mean little compared to collective success. 

“Personal success doesn’t interest me at all. I love football because it’s a team sport,” he said.

“Last year was wonderful because we shared it with the fans, with the players, with everyone in the club. That’s why I love sport; to share, not to stand alone and win for myself. That doesn’t interest me. I like to share, and I hope we can share even more this season.”

Al-Ahli confident of building on continental triumph

City rivals Al-Ahli also enter the season with high expectations after lifting the AFC Champions League Elite in May and following up with Saudi Super Cup success earlier this month. Coach Matthias Jaissle said the continental victory had given his players belief as well as responsibility.

“It was a historical moment to win the AFC trophy. It creates confidence but also raises expectations,” Jaissle said.

“We want to take that momentum in a positive way by carrying these good memories and this confidence into the new season. There will be new challenges waiting this whole season, but we are confident.”

Jaissle, now the longest-serving coach in the league, believes his two years of experience in Saudi football could give his side an edge.

“You get used to the different opponents, the teams with their players. That's a learning curve you can definitely use for your advantage,” he said.

“You also learn with different circumstances how to handle, for example, the heat with different conditions, and the tight schedule; playing every three days, that was a big lesson for us and showing that consistency will be important for the new season.”

The German manager pointed to the quality across the league, highlighting Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah among the main contenders, while also warning against underestimating promoted side Neom, who Al-Ahli narrowly beat in Thursday’s curtain-raiser.

“That shows that there will be big competition, and the league will be much more competitive compared to a few years ago,” he said.

“Overall, I think the league is progressing really well. There's clearly development and that the league is improving.”

Inzaghi seeks to restore Al-Hilal to the summit

For Al-Hilal, the new season offers a chance to reset after finishing last term without silverware. New manager Simone Inzaghi has already overseen a run to the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals, including a famous victory over Manchester City, and is determined to turn that momentum into trophies.

“The Club World Cup was a very positive experience, and it definitely has to serve as motivation,” Inzaghi said. “We know that last year Al-Hilal’s season didn’t go as expected because no titles were won. The hope is to do good teamwork, to entertain our fans, and to try to bring trophies to this club.”

The Italian, whose four years at Inter Milan yielded a Serie A title and two Coppa Italias, said he was quickly convinced by Al-Hilal’s ambition.

“I was convinced by Al-Hilal because it is a huge club, and the management made me feel very appreciated here, and I really wanted to be part of it,” he said.

“They strongly convinced me, and I came here with a great desire to do this. We had a fantastic Club World Cup, and now we are preparing to start the league in the best possible way.”