Can 'showman' Aubameyang conjure King's Cup for Al Qadsiah? | OneFootball

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a man of his word.

Just hours after officially putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with Al Qadsiah last summer, the former Arsenal and Barcelona star sat down with the club’s in-house media team.

In his first address since joining the Roshn Saudi League, Aubameyang made a bold exclamation when asked how excited he was to play in front of his new fans.

“My challenge is to continue doing what I’ve been doing all my career and all my life - scoring goals - and try to give my experience to the team and to the players,” the Gabon international said.

“I will try to give them some goals and obviously some show. Because I am a showman; I think everyone knows that.”

Almost 12 months later and Aubameyang has delivered on his promise. Despite being 35, the former English Premier League golden boot winner wound back the clock for Al Qadsiah this season, playing a leading role as the newly promoted side surged all the way to a best-ever finish of fourth.

Aubameyang concluded the RSL campaign with 17 goals and three assists, equalling his joint-best tally of goals in a league season since his 22 for Arsenal back in 2019-20.

He promised goals, and goals are what he gave, finishing the campaign with a run of five in his final five games. It wasn’t just the number of goals either, it was the timing of them.

Aubameyang developed a reputation throughout the season as a giant slayer thanks to his late, late goals against the top teams in the division.

From his 87th-minute winner at Al Nassr, to his 91st-minute goal against Al Ittihad or 93rd-minute winner at home to then-champions Al Hilal - his second goal of the night – “Auba” came up clutch when it mattered most.

As did, in fact, his striker partner, Mexican international Julian Quinones. Together the pair struck up an instant rapport, on and off the pitch, forming the league’s deadliest strike combination.

For as good as Aubameyang was this season, Quinones was arguably even better. He arrived last summer from Club America and thus with fewer expectations - and certainly fewer proclamations - but has proven to be an incredibly astute piece of business.

Quinones topped the scoring charts at Al Qadsiah with 20 – only four players in the entire RSL netted more, Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo retaining the golden boot  – and added a further five assists for good measure.

Together, he and Aubameyang combined for 37 goals in a side that scored 53 in the whole campaign. If Aubameyang doesn’t get you, Quinones will.

But their season is not done yet. This weekend, the deadly duo have the chance to cap their debut season in Saudi Arabia with a piece of silverware in the form of the King’s Cup; the first cup final for Al Qadsiah in two decades.

Having navigated their way past Al Orobah, Al Wehda, Al Taawoun and Al Raed, the Al Khobar club now face their most important clash of the season against newly crowned RSL champions Al Ittihad.

Not only that, Al Qadsiah will have to do so in front of Al Ittihad’s vociferous army of supporters at the intimidating Alinma Stadium in Jeddah.

It’s a match that carries extra significance for Michel’s men, with a win qualifying them for continental competition next season in the form of the AFC Champions League Two.

As RSL champions Al Ittihad have already secured their place in the Champions League Elite (city rivals Al Ahli will be defending champions), that continental carrot is still there for Al Qadsiah, who haven’t competed in Asia since winning the now-defunct Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993-94.

Not that Aubameyang, who has played in FA Cup and Europa League finals, will be overawed by the occasion. For a self-proclaimed “showman”, he was built for the big occasions.

Just look at his record against Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad this season. The higher the stakes, the better he performs.

Indeed, in both RSL matches against Al Ittihad this season, Aubameyang found the back of the net. And, while Al Qadsiah weren’t able to win either of them, it’s proof again of his ability to deliver in the biggest games - a confidence he will for sure carry into this weekend’s final.

For a man who promised a “show”, what grander stage could there be than lifting silverware in the final game of the domestic season?