Édouard Mendy has firmly denied suggestions that Al-Ahli players orchestrated the removal of sporting director Rui Pedro Braz, following the Saudi club's 3-0 Clasico defeat to Al-Hilal. The Senegalese goalkeeper addressed the controversy after Al-Ahli's commanding 5-0 victory over Al-Riyadh in the Roshn League's fifth round on Friday evening at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium.
Speculation had mounted that Al-Ahli's squad demanded Braz's dismissal following their midweek loss to arch-rivals Al-Hilal. Mendy rejected this narrative, emphasizing that players bear no responsibility for such administrative decisions. "We are footballers, and we do not make such decisions," he stated. "The place where we should speak is the pitch, and that is where our response should be. We are players before anything else, and no one is bigger than the club, and no one will ever be bigger than the club."
Unity Message Amid Fan Tensions
The goalkeeper also used the post-match platform to address tensions surrounding Artem Bondarenko, the Ukrainian midfielder recently arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk, who faced relentless jeers throughout the match. Mendy appealed for collective support of all squad members wearing the Al-Ahli shirt. "I want to stress that we are united, and just as I tell the fans that we are with them, we also need them to be with us," Mendy explained. "They must support us and support every player in the team."
The 32-year-old emphasized that Al-Ahli's global standing depends on welcoming new arrivals warmly. "What is bigger than everyone is this family and this club, the biggest club in Asia and not just in Saudi Arabia," he said. "We have a responsibility to show Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom, Asia, and the world that we are the best club, and we want any player who comes here to feel welcome and happy to be here, exactly as our fans have always done with each one of us."
Bounce-Back Performance
The emphatic 5-0 victory represented Al-Ahli's response to consecutive defeats—a 3-1 loss to Al-Khaleej followed by the demoralizing Clasico result. Mendy acknowledged the team had fallen short of their standards during that difficult spell. "We were aware among ourselves that we had not offered enough in the last two matches," he reflected. "The scenario of each match was different, but it is clear that what we produced was not enough, and this is not our true character." The dominant display against Al-Riyadh signals Al-Ahli's intent to refocus on league competition and restore confidence before crucial fixtures ahead.
