Al-Hilal's Inzaghi Explores Martinelli–Summerville Tactics After Derby Win

Simone Inzaghi walked out of the SHG Arena with a fifth straight league win in his pocket and a new attacking puzzle already turning over in his mind.

Al-Hilal had just beaten Al-Shabab 2-0 in the Riyadh derby in the fifth round of the Saudi Roshn League, a professional, controlled performance that kept them three points clear at the top. The night also belonged to a debut: Gabriel Martinelli in blue.

The Brazilian came off the bench and, almost immediately, became the subject of the next tactical debate.

Martinelli, Summerville and the left-sided conundrum

Inzaghi has a clear vision. He wants Gabriel Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville working in tandem, with both naturally leaning to the left side but flexible enough to switch.

Asked which of the pair would claim the right flank in the coming matches, the Italian refused to box either in.

“Both players can play on the right side with complete ease,” he said.

He backed that up with his in-game choices. “Today we brought Martinelli in on the right, and after (Sabri) Dahl came on I sent him to play on the left side, and they will be rotated in the upcoming matches.”

The message was obvious: there will be no fixed labels. Martinelli and Summerville will be moved around, interchanging across the front, with the left zone as their shared playground.

Market still open, defence under the microscope

The derby win did not hide the one area that still troubles Inzaghi.

“The market is still open, and the sporting management is doing a great job in the transfer market. We have a need in the defensive line, and we are working on that,” he admitted.

Al-Hilal may be perfect on paper in the Roshn League so far, but the back line is stretched. Injuries, fatigue and makeshift solutions are forcing the coach to juggle more than he would like.

He did not sugar-coat it later: “We have a struggle in the defensive line, and we are trying to cover this shortfall, and we have Meshaal Al-Dawood.”

Right-back headache and makeshift answers

If the centre of defence is thin, right-back is a running concern.

“We have a kind of struggle in the right-back position,” Inzaghi said. That line has become a theme of his early months.

He highlighted one player in particular. “I have been monitoring (Mohammed) Mahzari since last season, and he has covered a lot of the shortfall in this position. He is a great player who gives everything he has.”

Mahzari’s effort has plugged gaps, but Al-Hilal are still searching for stability. Inzaghi is effectively building a small unit out of specialists and stand-ins.

“We are waiting for the return of Hamad Al-Yami, and we are also working on preparing Sabri Dahl to be a player in the same position, even though his position is right wing,” he explained.

Dahl, a natural winger, is being reshaped into cover at full-back. It is not ideal, but with the fixture list relentless and the title race already sharp, compromises are inevitable.

Fatigue, focus and a drained squad

The performance against Al-Shabab impressed Inzaghi not just for the scoreline, but for the response after a punishing schedule.

“We were very focused, we came out strong and controlled the atmosphere of the match,” he said. “We came back from the Al-Ahli fixture with our energy drained, and today we faced a very strong team in midfield and attack.”

That context mattered. Al-Hilal had spent heavily, emotionally and physically, in the previous match against Al-Ahli. Yet they still dictated the derby, managed the tempo and shut down Al-Shabab’s threats through the middle and in the final third.

The control came at a cost, though, and nowhere was that clearer than in defence.

Tambakti managed, Lajami missing

Hassan Tambakti’s substitution raised eyebrows, but Inzaghi moved quickly to calm any fears.

“After his two-month injury, he took part in five training sessions and wanted to feature in the Al-Ahli match, but he played today, and his substitution was not due to injury, only because of fatigue,” he clarified.

With minutes being carefully managed, every decision at the back feels delicate.

“Ali Lajami is injured, we hope he returns as soon as possible,” Inzaghi added, underlining again the strain on his defensive resources.

For now, Meshaal Al-Dawood and others must hold the line while the recruitment team hunts for reinforcements and the medical staff works to get key defenders back on the pitch.

Top of the table – and under pressure to stay there

Five games, five wins. Fifteen points. Al-Hilal sit alone at the summit of the Roshn League, three points clear of Al-Nassr, who still have to navigate a tricky clasico against Al-Ittihad on Saturday.

The attack is being sharpened with Martinelli and Summerville ready to rotate and roam. The midfield has handled stern tests. The only real question sits behind them, where injuries and improvisation are stretching Inzaghi’s options.

If the Italian can find the right defensive pieces before the window closes, this early surge might be the start of something dominant. If he cannot, can Al-Hilal’s firepower keep them ahead of a chasing pack that refuses to go away?