Blanc: On title secret, Clasico wake-up call, leader Benzema, and feeling at home in Jeddah | OneFootball

As Al Ittihad celebrate the spoils of success, it’s worth pausing to reflect on where it is they came from to clinch their second Roshn Saudi League title in three seasons.

Twelve months ago they were some ways back, their title defence ending in definite disappointment; they finished 42 points behind champions, Al Hilal. It was a daunting gap to try and close heading into a new campaign.

The off-season saw plenty of change and, aside from a raft of new player signings, the most notable switch-up came in the arrival of Laurent Blanc, the former FIFA World Cup winner, to take charge as manager.

With Blanc in the dugout, and a suite of new arrivals ready to impress, the 2024-25 season brought with it fresh optimism, especially after Al Ittihad opened with three successive victories. None was more of a signal of intent than the 7-1 thumping of Al Wehda in the Old Derby.

But, in Matchweek Four, came the reality check. In the first Saudi Clasico of the season, Al Hilal were 2-0 up inside the opening quarter of an hour. They were dominant. In contrast, Al Ittihad were provided a stark illustration of the improvement needed to challenge for the championship.

As Blanc reflects now on the title-winning campaign, one in which on Wednesday he was named the 2024-25 RSL Coach of the Season, he looks back at that Aleksandar-Mitrovic-inspired 3-1 loss at the Kingdom Arena in September as a pivotal turning point.

“We were completely outplayed,” Blanc says during an in-depth interview with SPL. “After 10 minutes, they basically told us: ‘You’re not strong enough right now’. It was very clear.

“And I said it very openly… very openly. I’m sure it didn’t sit well with some Al Ittihad supporters. But it’s the truth. At some point, if you hide from the truth, how can you expect to make progress?

“But it made us realise - as a staff, we already knew it - but it really made the players aware that we needed to work, not just individually, but especially as a team. That’s what it would take to try to close the gap, and maybe even go beyond it.”

Ultimately, Blanc’s side did just that; throughout the remainder of the season, they lost only twice.

Whether it was the ignominy of the Clasico defeat, or the stinging criticism of Blanc’s blunt assessment, it was a game that clearly lit a fire underneath the Al Ittihad players.

Whereas 12 months earlier they wilted under the pressure of being defending champions, on this occasion, Al Ittihad rose to the occasion. For that, Blanc and his staff deserve immense credit.

In a definitive example of his adroit management, Blanc was able to extract the best from Karim Benzema, a fellow Frenchman whom Blanc confirmed helped get him to Al Ittihad in the first place.

“I believe there’s one person who definitely played a role in my coming here as a coach, and that’s Karim Benzema,” he explains.

“From the moment we spoke, and he understood that I might be interested in coaching here in Saudi Arabia, and in Jeddah in particular, he probably did what was needed to get the right people in touch with me.”

The professional progression was reciprocated. Having arrived in the summer of 2023 in possession of football's prestigious Ballon d’Or, Benzema struggled in his first season in Jeddah. He scored nine times from 21 appearances as Al Ittihad finished fifth.

However, working back alongside Blanc, whom he played under for the French national team, gave the Real Madrid great a new lease of life.

Patently, the joy returned to Benzema’s play this season. In the end, the captain top-scored at Al Ittihad with 21 RSL goals; indeed, supplemented with nine assists, he registered the joint-most goal contributions in the league, together with Al Hilal counterpart Salem Al Dawsari.

But, what’s more, Benzema played with a smile. He also embraced his role as a leader in the team, an influence that was recognised with him being voted RSL Player of the Season.

“It’s hard not to be impressed by the way Karim Benzema plays,” Blanc offers. “Yes, everyone knew the player. The man, we knew a bit less. I’m not much of a talker, and neither is he. But I think we managed to understand and appreciate each other.

“I think football and the desire to win give him the ability to connect with others and communicate effectively.”

Check out the best images of Al Ittihad's title coronation

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Communication was also an important tool for Blanc, as it is for any coach. Being able to constantly motivate and inspire the players through words and deeds is what makes a great manager - and Blanc appeared always able to strike the right tone at the right time.

Whether it was his frank honesty after Al Ittihad’s loss to Al Hilal, or his directness as they closed in on the title, he knew what made the players tick. And, certainly, he played on that.

“It has to be you who wins the league” was his message to the players during the closing stretch. He emphasised that nothing would be handed to his team; they had to follow it through.

Most tellingly, Al Ittihad did that earlier this month, in the Matchweek 30 clash at title-chasing Al Nassr. Two-nil down at half-time, it was there the visitors displayed a champions mettle: Houssem Aouar netted yet another injury-time goal as Al Ittihad triumphed 3-2.

“As I kept telling my team when we were six points ahead, or nine points ahead, or eight points ahead in the final matches: I said, ‘We have to go and win at Al Nassr. And even if we win, we must not think we've won the title’.

“Of course, it would be a big step towards the title, but we can't say: ‘We’ve won it.’ It's not done yet; it needs to be sealed, confirmed. And that confirmation was at Al Raed.”

Indeed it was, coming eight days after their win in Riyadh. Blanc, of course, is no stranger to winning silverware as manager, having lifted four Ligue 1 titles with in France across spells at Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain, not to mention numerous cup competitions.

Yet the 59-year-old concedes there was something extra special about his latest trophy success.

Laurent Blanc celebrates Al Ittihad's title success at trophy presentation at Alinma Stadium

“Seasons like this one, I’d love to experience again,” the former defender says. “I really would. You never know if you’ll get to live something like this again. But this one, this one needs to be appreciated for what it truly is.”

Interestingly, what sets this title apart from the others is the fact it represented Blanc’s first achieved outside his homeland.

“It’s an experience abroad,” he says. “It’s working with another staff. It’s a different country, a different culture. I loved it. I absolutely loved it. It wasn’t easy. Nothing we did was guaranteed or written in advance. But I really enjoyed it.

“What I like about this country, Saudi Arabia, is that I didn’t listen to what people told me. I don’t like listening to others talk about a place; I prefer to form my own opinion. I knew I’d like Jeddah, but I didn’t expect to like it this much. I’m talking about the city itself, the lifestyle, living here.

“But where I was completely surprised is the love of football here. I think we have one of the clubs that loves football the most. We have one of the Saudi cities that loves football the most. And I feel at home in this city. So, I’m very happy.”

Blanc has been smitten, too, with the Al Ittihad faithful, the inhabitants of the city that have welcomed him with open arms. How could he not given the support they have given him and his side this year?

“What’s still beautiful, or nice, or pleasant to experience here, is that the supporters are genuine,” Blanc says. “That means they support their team. Every supporter backs their own team.

“And the community lives together peacefully. There are fans of different clubs; when you go to the stadium, whether you’re surrounded by your own supporters or those of the opposing team, nothing happens. It’s becoming more and more difficult, especially back home in Europe.

“As I told the Al Ittihad fans - and I see some of them around town - I told them, that this year, they were the best too. They really were the best. The team was the best in the league, of course, but the fans were the best in the stands.

“They made it feel almost like playing at home for nearly every match. And even in the [Al Raed] match, when we celebrated the title, it felt almost like playing at home. So, congratulations to them.”

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Check out the full interview, which includes Blanc's high praise of N'Golo Kante, the impact of Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn, and why he believes the club's local contingent are just an important as their foreign stars.