Bruised by defeat in the derby, Renan Lodi refused, though, to be bowed by it.
“Obviously, we are very sad with this loss,” the Al Hilal defender said following Friday’s 3-1 reverse at home to Al Nassr, a potentially damaging result in their quest to retain the Roshn Saudi League title.
“We wanted the three points, it’s a derby, a very important game. But we don’t surrender. There are still some games to play in the league and we still have the [Asian] Champions League [Elite] also.
“Now we have to rest and think about the next game.”
That following assignment comes around fast. On Friday night, Al Hilal travel to Dammam to take on a resurgent Al Ettifaq knowing victory feels a must given the state of play at the top of the RSL.
Despite the Capital Derby defeat, Al Hilal stay second. However, they lie five points back from Al Ittihad – the leaders drew the Sea Derby with Al Ahli 2-2 on Saturday – and are now only three ahead of third-placed Al Nassr.
Still, Lodi isn’t prepared to wave the white flag just yet. Not a chance.
“Now we have to work,” he declared. “We don’t give up the league, and we have the Champions League to play. We are going to train a lot for the next games to come.”
