Al Hilal Boss Simone Inzaghi delivered a bold and fiery statement following his side’s stunning 4-3 victory over Manchester City in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, taunting City boss Pep Guardiola with the headline-grabbing line: “We showed Pep you can’t win anything with oil money.”
The dramatic win over the Man City marks a major milestone in Inzaghi’s new chapter with Al Hilal, just one month after leaving Inter Milan. It also continues a whirlwind few weeks for the Italian tactician, who lost his second UEFA Champions League final with Inter on May 31, then parted ways with the Serie A side after four years in charge.
Now, under the Saudi Arabian club’s banner, Inzaghi has quickly shown he has the blueprint to compete with — and defeat — Europe’s elite.
“We knew we had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen, and we were great,” Inzaghi said after the match, praising his team’s resilience and tactical discipline. “I’m proud of my players. This wasn’t luck — it was courage, strategy, and heart.”
From Underdogs to Giant-Killers
Al Hilal’s journey at the Club World Cup has been nothing short of remarkable. After forcing a draw against Xabi Alonso’s star-studded Real Madrid earlier in the tournament, they outlasted Manchester City in a seven-goal thriller that saw Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produce a record-breaking 10 saves.
The result sent shockwaves through global football and ignited discussions about the rapidly rising competitiveness of top Asian and Middle Eastern clubs in international tournaments.
“Inter now look like proper farmers without him,” one viral post read, highlighting Inzaghi’s impact in just a short span.
Guardiola Responds Gracefully
While Pep Guardiola credited Al Hilal for their performance, he acknowledged the small margins that made the difference.
“We created many chances, especially in the first half. But in games like this, you can get punished for not finishing. Their goalkeeper was outstanding,” Guardiola remarked.
Still, Inzaghi’s biting remarks and his team’s fearless football have stolen the spotlight.
A Statement Beyond the Scoreline
The Italian tactician’s comment about “oil money” is already trending across social media and headlines, seen as a dig not just at Manchester City’s deep financial resources, but also a declaration that tactical brilliance and unity still win games.
From heartbreak in the Champions League to heroics on the Club World Cup stage, Simone Inzaghi’s rapid transformation of Al Hilal has made one thing clear: he’s not just in the conversation — he’s rewriting it.
Quotes from Al Hilal players after the win over Man City
“We knew that it would be a difficult game against one of the best teams in the world and we wanted to show our ideas, our talents and our power. We made a very good game; we took our chances so we can be happy. We wanted to show that Al Hilal have the power and the talent to be here and we showed a great mentality.” Kalidou Koulibaly, Al Hilal defender
“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU. Today she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match. We have to think about our families – people who want the best for us. If they weren’t watching, I wouldn’t be here today.” Marcos Leonardo, Al Hilal forward
Al Hilal will now prepare for the semi-finals, their confidence sky-high — and their manager unafraid to speak his mind.
