Getting ready for semis

Next Monday will be the first leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals between two Saudi teams. Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, both from Jeddah, did very well to reach this level. Both teams are focused on the game with their managements backing them up all the way.
One of the good things their managements did was to motivate the team without pressuring the players to a point of stressing them out. Players and coaches were rewarded whenever they reach a higher level in the tournament. Let’s take Ittihad, for example, which always played better here, with a calm coach whose no pressure techniques prove to be effective. Enough to motivate the players to do harder even when they are losing. This team knows how to deal with the two-legged types of matches. We witnessed them win big time in the first leg of the quarterfinals 4-2, paving the way to a shot at the championship.
Ahli’s story is quite different, being stronger in skills and talent somehow than Ittihad but a little less in determination. It could also be that the Saudi league is a higher priority that is why they keep postponing their matches. Although I do not agree in this it is undeniable that this team do play good football and has very talented players.
But the issue now is the fight over the share of the stadium. The Asian Football Federation rule states that the home team will have the privilege of occupying over 92% of the stadium capacity. And because both teams call Saudi Arabia home, Ahli thinks it is fair to suggest that the team should have equal rights to the seating capacity at both matches regardless of where it will be held. Of course, Ittihad, which wants to take advantage of the support in the first match, refuses to compromise. I say, let the Asian Football Confederation settle this and just let the teams give us good football.
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