Inzaghi under pressure at Al-Hilal as January slump bites | OneFootball

Simone Inzaghi’s early momentum at Al-Hilal has stalled, with a run of draws dropping his side to third and his position under scrutiny.

Gazzetta suggests his once golden seat is far less comfortable, while Arabic media report ownership discontent and fans calling for his dismissal. Despite the cost of dismissing a coach on his salary, the reports add that an exit cannot be ruled out.

He arrived as one of the most coveted coaches, fresh from two Champions League finals in three years with Inter. His reported €26 million salary per season makes him the second highest-paid manager, behind Diego Simeone.

Al-Hilal had surged to the top of the Saudi Pro League with a seven-point cushion. January brought the arrival of Karim Benzema, a signing Inzaghi had advocated.

Since then, five draws in seven have seen them fall four points behind leaders Al-Ahli, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr also ahead.

There is an uncomfortable echo of his first year at Inter, when a seven-point Serie A lead was overhauled in the final weeks by Stefano Pioli’s Milan. He now needs to overturn a similar deficit, this time against Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus’ Al-Nassr.

The next two fixtures look pivotal. Al-Hilal meet Al-Shabab, who are 12th, then face Al-Saad in the Asian Champions League last 16, led by Inzaghi’s former Italy teammate Roberto Mancini. Win both and the pressure eases, anything less and the questions grow louder.

Source: Football Italia