Inzaghi Faces Watkins Dilemma as Al-Hilal Begin Asian Campaign

Al-Hilal step back onto the continental stage on Tuesday night with old memories and fresh doubts swirling around Kingdom Arena. At the heart of it all: Simone Inzaghi, a demanding schedule, and a question mark over Ollie Watkins.

The Italian coach confirmed on Monday that his English striker remains a game-time decision for the AFC Champions League Elite opener against Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, with the final call to come after the team’s last training session.

“Whether (Ollie) Watkins participates or not will be decided after today's training,” Inzaghi said, leaving the door open but hardly wide. What he did make clear is that Crysencio Summerville and Gabriel Martinelli are ready and will feature.

Heavy schedule, high stakes

Al-Hilal barely have time to breathe. They come into the clash just 48 hours after facing Al-Taawoun, the latest stop in a run of three consecutive matches that has tested both legs and depth. Yet they remain top of the Roshn League, and Inzaghi clearly wants that domestic dominance to spill over into Asia.

“We think about each match on its own, and tomorrow is our first match in the tournament,” he said. The message: no excuses.

He reminded everyone that this is not just another fixture on a crowded calendar. “This is a big tournament and dear to our hearts,” he said, underlining how seriously his squad treats the continental stage. “In today's training we are aiming to prepare well to play our first match in it.”

For a club with Al-Hilal’s history, anything less than a deep run feels like underachievement. Four titles make them the most decorated side in the competition’s history, but last season’s exit still stings. They crashed out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Al-Sadd, another Qatari side. That scar hangs in the background.

Familiar opponent, familiar warning

There will be no surprises in the scouting report. Al-Hilal and Al-Gharafa met last year, and Inzaghi sees continuity on the other side.

“We know Al-Gharafa well, we faced them last year, and they have almost the same coach and players,” he said. “They have fast forwards, and we will enter the match with full ferocity.”

The word “ferocity” is doing a lot of work there. Inzaghi wants intensity, not control for its own sake. He has repeatedly praised his team’s balance this season, and he did it again, bluntly: “We are the best team on both the attacking and defensive fronts (in the Roshn League), and tomorrow we will open a new chapter in the Asian tournament.”

The pressure that comes with that status? He brushed it aside. “The players are used to the pressure, we played 3 consecutive matches, and despite that we are still top of the league table.” The subtext: if they can handle the league grind, they can handle an Asian opener at home.

Selection puzzles and a fresh chapter

Injuries have forced some juggling, but there was at least one positive update. Inzaghi confirmed that Simon Bouabre will be available, a useful boost as he looks to rotate and manage minutes across competitions.

“(Simon) Bouabre will be available for the match, and we will aim to use all available players in this tournament,” he said. That line matters. It hints at a long campaign where squad depth could decide who lasts into the spring and who fades before the knockout rounds.

Watkins remains the big unknown. His presence, or absence, changes the dynamic of Al-Hilal’s attack, even with Summerville and Martinelli cleared to play. Yet Inzaghi refused to let one injury concern overshadow the bigger picture.

For Al-Hilal, this is not just about revenge for last season or a statement on matchday one. It is about proving that a team ruling the Roshn League can still carry that authority onto the Asian stage — starting under the lights at Kingdom Arena, with or without their English No. 9.