Al-Hilal’s Inzaghi Develops Martinelli-Summerville Left-Side Strategy
Al-Hilal keep winning, and Simone Inzaghi keeps tweaking.
A fifth straight victory in the Saudi Roshn League, a 2-0 Riyadh derby win over Al-Shabab at SHG Arena, pushed the league leaders three points clear at the top. It also offered the first glimpse of Gabriel Martinelli in Al-Hilal blue – and a hint of how Inzaghi plans to weaponise his new Brazilian star.
Martinelli, Summerville and a crowded left flank
Martinelli came off the bench on Friday night, introduced on the right side before being switched across once Sabri Dahl entered the pitch. That shuffle was no accident.
Inzaghi laid out his blueprint afterwards: he wants Martinelli and Crysencio Summerville dovetailing from the left, interchanging and drifting, rather than being nailed to one flank.
Asked which of the two would own the right wing in the coming weeks, the Italian was clear: both can do it.
He pointed out that Martinelli started his cameo on the right before being moved left, and stressed that the pair will be rotated across the wide positions as the schedule bites. The idea is flexibility, constant movement, and no easy reads for opposition full-backs.
For now, the left looks like the natural home for both, with the right side becoming a tactical swing door, not a fixed address.
A leader pleased, but not satisfied
Inzaghi’s satisfaction with the result was obvious. His assessment of the performance showed why Al-Hilal are setting the early pace.
He spoke of a side “very focused”, starting strong and “controlling the atmosphere of the match”. The context matters: they had just come off a draining clash with Al-Ahli, and walked into another test against an Al-Shabab team with real quality in midfield and attack.
Al-Hilal still dictated terms. They managed the tempo, picked their moments, and protected their lead with the assurance of a team that expects to be top.
Yet even on a night like this, the coach’s mind was on the flaws.
Right-back headaches and defensive worries
The win did not hide the fact that Al-Hilal are stretched at the back.
Inzaghi did not sugarcoat it: there is “a struggle” at right-back and an obvious shortfall in the defensive line. The transfer market, he stressed, remains open, and the club’s sporting management is working hard to plug those gaps.
One player has already stepped into the breach. Mohammed Mahzari, monitored by Inzaghi since last season, has become a key stopgap on the right. The coach praised his willingness to cover ground and his commitment to the role, highlighting just how vital his contribution has been in an area of clear concern.
Reinforcements are not just external. Hamad Al-Yami’s return is eagerly awaited, while Sabri Dahl is being retrained to cover at right-back despite his natural position being further forward on the wing. It is a pragmatic solution born of necessity rather than luxury.
At centre-back, the picture is just as tight. Hassan Tambakti, recently back from a two-month injury layoff, has only five training sessions behind him. He wanted to feature against Al-Ahli; instead, he started this derby and was later withdrawn. Inzaghi made it clear the substitution came down to fatigue, not a fresh injury.
Ali Lajami, meanwhile, remains sidelined, with the staff hoping for a quick return. Until then, the coach leans on what he has – including Meshaal Al-Dawood – to hold the line.
Top of the table, eyes on the market
So Al-Hilal sit on 15 points from 15, perfect after five rounds, with a three-point cushion over Al-Nassr. The chasing side now walk into a clasico against Al-Ittihad that could either close the gap or hand Inzaghi even more breathing space.
The attack looks loaded, Martinelli already folded into the rotation and a promising partnership with Summerville taking shape on that favoured left side.
The question is whether Al-Hilal can keep this surge going while patching up a defence held together by versatility, improvisation and a race against the clock in the transfer market.
