Al Ahli ‘to leave out’ Artem Bondarenko for Al Hilal clash | OneFootball

According to Goal.com, Dutch head coach Marino Pusic has left new signing Artem Bondarenko out of Al Ahli’s squad for Tuesday evening’s rescheduled Roshn League clash with Al Hilal. This follows frustration with his display in the previous match.

Al Ahli go into the third round fixture seeking to steady themselves after the 3-1 defeat by Al Khaleej. Al Hilal, meanwhile, are aiming to extend their winning run and strengthen their position in the title race.

Bondarenko did not convince the technical staff against Al Khaleej, looking below the expected level on a poor night for the team. That showing has prompted swift changes before a far tougher test.

The Ukrainian arrived with high hopes of adding a new dimension, yet his early outings have not shown the influence Pusic wants. The staff were not reassured by what they saw last time out.

His omission underlines that Pusic will not risk fielding anyone he does not deem fully ready. Facing Al Hilal demands maximum concentration, discipline and readiness, given their attacking threat.

It also serves as a reminder to the squad that places must be earned. Selection will be dictated by performance on the pitch, not fees or reputations.

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”