Can Jens Wissing repeat the 'green miracle' with Al-Ittihad?
German coach Jens Wissing is transforming Al-Ittihad into a cohesive unit, focusing on collective play over big-name signings.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Michaelx82
Since his appointment at the start of the season, German manager Jens Wissing has made a significant impact at Al-Ittihad. Instead of attempting to replace lost stars with expensive signings, he has focused on building a collective system that functions as a single, disciplined unit.
This philosophy was on full display against Al-Nassr, where the team utilized a high-pressing approach to secure a two-goal lead within the first 22 minutes. Wissing has achieved these results by extracting the best out of his current squad rather than relying on high spending or big names.
This follows his recent success in May, where he defeated Al-Nassr while managing Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Two final. The narrative surrounding his time at Al-Ittihad now draws parallels to the "green miracle" achieved by Matthias Jaissle at Al-Ahli, who won the AFC Champions League twice consecutively despite facing wealthier opponents.
While it is premature to compare Wissing directly to Jaissle as he is still early in his tenure, his ability to cultivate a strong side under testing circumstances is undeniable. Although talk of titles remains cautious, Al-Ittihad, once expected to have a difficult season, have emerged as a transformed team with genuine potential.