One coach in the Saudi Pro League has hit back at Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, throwing shade at the Eredivisie in the process. Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus is now in his second season during his second stint with the Saudi club. Last year, he guided the side to an undefeated campaign in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a>. Therefore, he is standing up for the league after Ronald Koeman said the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/koeman-changed-tones-on-transfers-speaking-about-depay/">Brazilian top flight is better than the Saudi</a> top division. Jorge Jesus took it one step further to attack the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/eredivisie-tv-schedule/">Eredivisie</a>, which he claimed is a worse league than the Saudi Pro League.



“Eredivisie is one of the weakest leagues in Europe,” Jorge Jesus <a href="https://portugoal.net/portuguese-abroad/4159-theres-no-comparison-between-saudi-and-portuguese-leagues-al-hilal-boss-jorge-jesus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. “Koeman is in no position to make that kind of statement because he doesn’t know about the [Saudi Pro League]. There is no comparison. The SPL is stronger than Eredivisie.”



In recent seasons, the Saudi Pro League has made strides to bolster its soccer standing. That centers around bringing in stars from Europe, many past their primes. Consequently, clubs like Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad have benefited. Al Hilal and Jorge Jesus have brought in players like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/al-hilal-to-exclude-neymar-until-january-what-does-future-hold/">Neymar</a>, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly in the last two seasons. Jorge Jesus would argue the talent in the Eredivisie is not as strong, citing its reputation as a selling league to other European elites.



In fairness, Koeman did not comment on the Eredivisie when speaking about the Saudi Pro League. The Dutch head coach did, however, call seven players from the Eredivisie into his most recent squad during the September international break. Those seven players came from four clubs within the Dutch top flight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240928_WST_532079_Koeman-Saudi-1200x675_ae933ffc.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-532105" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Koeman-Saudi-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Koeman-Saudi-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Koeman-Saudi-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Koeman-Saudi-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Koeman-Saudi.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Comparing the Saudi Pro League and the Eredivisie</h2>



The argument in favor of the Saudi Pro League comes from the list of talent. In addition to the players on Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro League boasts the likes of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ronaldo-targets-al-nassr-reunion-with-ex-real-madrid-boss/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney. Again, though these top talents are predominantly on the teams at the top of the table.



Holistically, it is challenging to compare leagues. The Opta World Rankings at least provide a means of comparison between international divisions. Earlier in 2024, Opta ranked the Eredivisie as the 15th strongest league in the world. That is below the likes of the Brasileirao, Liga MX and even Major League Soccer. By comparison, the Saudi Pro League was down to 26th in the world. It is between the top flights from Cyprus and Czechia, for reference.



In Jorge Jesus’s defense, some of the top teams in the Saudi Pro League are on the same level as those in the Eredivisie. His Al Hilal side is in the same area of the Opta Power Rankings as PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord. Al Nassr is also part of the top 100 clubs in the world based on current form. Yet, those Saudi sides are playing against teams far below the bottom teams in the Eredivisie, which hurts the overall balance of the league.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Saudi Pro League boss claims league surpasses the Eredivisie

One coach in the Saudi Pro League has hit back at Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, throwing shade at the Eredivisie in the process.

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DiMariaReal.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DiMariaReal.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-114833" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20140902_WST_115709_DiMariaReal-600x318.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=318" alt="DiMariaReal" width="600" height="318" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/DiMariaReal-600x318.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/DiMariaReal-150x79.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/DiMariaReal-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/08/DiMariaReal.jpg 660w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure></div>
1. Real Madrid
Players In
James Rodriguez-£63million
Toni Kroos-£27million
Keylor Navas-£9million
Javier Hernandez-Loan
Players Out
Angel di Maria-£59.7million
Alvaro Morata-£17million
Xabi Alonso-£9million
Nuri Sahin-£6million
Casemiro-Loan
Diego Lopez-Free Transfer
It seems rather difficult to say a team who have just signed James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos are losers in the transfer market but bear with me. Carlo Ancelotti moulded a side perfectly last season, the arrival of Gareth Bale saw <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2014/08/28/how-angel-di-maria-can-avoid-being-the-latest-british-transfer-record-to-flop/">Angel di Maria</a> move into central midfield, a role within which he excelled, and Madrid went onto lift their tenth European Cup.
This summer Madrid have once again embarked on their policy of signing stars. James Rodriguez arrived at the Bernabeu, following an outstanding World Cup where he led Colombia admirably in Radamel Falcao’s absence.
However with Financial Fair Play a real worry for all clubs Madrid could not sit back and admire their purchase. The books, in one way or another, had to be balanced. The answer was to sell di Maria – the engine of the team.
Despite players and management pleading with Florentino Perez not to sell Di Maria, the president had his mind made up despite having offered the Argentine star a new contract earlier in the summer. It is believed that this was a deal we believe was on such poorly improved terms it may well have been designed to push ‘El Fideo’ even further out of the door.
Madrid have brought in outstanding individuals but I just can’t help but get the feeling that the club has taken a number of steps back with their sales, losing di Maria will leave Madrid with very little energy and incisiveness in the middle of midfield. That was something which characterised their expansive play last term and with the club already having endured a shaky start to the season, there is a feeling that this could be a window the club end up regretting.
2. SL Benfica
Players In
Andreas Samaris-£9million
Bryan Cristante-£5million
Talisca-£3.5million
Bebe-£2.6million
Loris Benito-£2.6million
Cesar-£2.6million
Derley-£2.2million
Pawel Dawidowicz-£1.7million
Luis Felipe-£1.7million
Eliseu-£880k
Julio Cesar-Free Transfer
Djavan-Free Transfer
Daniel Candeias-Free Transfer
Players Out
Jan Oblak-£14million
Lazar Markovic-£22million
Andre Gomes-£13million
Ezequiel Garay-£5.2million
Oscar Cardozo-£4.4million
Alan Kardec-£4million
Stefan Mitrovic-£1.3million
Rodrigo-Loan
Filip Djuricic-Loan
Joao Cancelo-Loan
Airton-Loan
Sidnei-Loan
If ever there was a case of having to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear then this is it. Jorge Jesus, after a season where Benfica came within a penalty shoot-out of a quadruple of trophies has seen the majority of Benfica’s star players leave the club whilst the replacements have not been of the same ilk.
Of course it is the business model of Benfica to sign young, talented players and develop them before selling to a wealthier European club for a sound financial profit. This summer, however, Benfica have brought in players who don’t necessarily fit that model.
Bebe has joined from Manchester United after a good spell in the Portuguese League on loan, whist Julio Cesar looks set to try and resurrect his career by playing regular football in an accomplished European league.
You worry where goals are going to come from for Benfica with Oscar Cardozo, the club’s attacking talisman over the years having departed for Turkey. Derley has impressed in Portugal but does he represent the same level of attacking threat?
Samaris is an exciting signing with the attacking midfielder having impressed with Greece at the World Cup. Highly-rated Bryan Cristante will develop over time at Benfica and likely improve the team’s creativity from a deeper midfield position.
Benfica have to once more try and balance domestic football with the Champions League. Although there have been a significant number of players brought into the club, the quality isn’t as high as last year and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Jorge Jesus cut an increasingly frustrated figure as the campaign progresses.
3. AS Monaco
Players In
Aymen Abdennour-£11.4million
Tiemoue Bakayoko-£7million
Paul Nardi-£2.6million
Maarten Stekelenburg-Loan
Wallace-Loan
Fabinho-Loan
Players Out
James Rodriguez-£63million
Radamel Falcao-Loan
Emmanuel Riviere-£5.6million
Carl Medjani-Free Transfer
Eric Abidal-Free Transfer
Nacer Barazite-Free Transfer
Nicolas Isimat-Mirin-Loan
Flavio Roma-Retired
Just twelve months on from the arrivals of <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2014/09/01/manchester-united-sign-radamel-falcao-on-season-long-loan/">Radamel Falcao</a>, James Rodriguez and co, it looks as if the Monaco project undertaken by Dmitry Rybolovlev is now coming apart at the seams. Following the billionaire’s expensive divorce settlement earlier this year the feeling is the Russian’s interest in footballing affairs is waning.
The club have not even come close to repeating the expenditure the 2014 summer, but have overseen the expensive departures of a number of their stars as well as leaving many unhappy ones still at the club.
Rodriguez exit is perhaps understandable, after an outstanding World Cup he became Real Madrid’s top target and as we know it is very difficult to turn down a club widely regarded as the best in the world.
Falcao on the other hand was the marquee name brought in last summer to launch the project and the fact he has been allowed to leave just a year on suggests a monumental failure.
Even Champions League football and possibly the largest contract in world football wasn’t enough to keep Falcao happy as the Colombian yesterday headed to Manchester United for at least a season – &nbsp;a team that does not ply their trade in Europe’s most coveted competition.
If the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri was shocking, then the lack of support the new coach Leonardo Jardim has received is even more so. The 40-year old left Sporting Lisbon for Monaco with the idea he was moving a step up on the coaching ladder and that he would be able to work with a higher standard of players and be given a bigger budget – how wrong he was.
Only three players have joined the club since Jardim was unveiled on July 3rd, with the most expensive coming at £7million. Jardim has been left with a severely depleted squad, although still relatively high in quality in some areas but given the club’s start to the season it doesn’t look to be enough.
It is a case of Jardim having the rug pulled from underneath him and at this moment it looks unlikely Monaco will be able to repeat their achievements of last season.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Jorge Jesus"

News

Saudi Pro League boss claims league surpasses the Eredivisie

benfica

Losers Of The 2014 Summer Transfer Window