A much-needed win over Al Hazem on Friday offered Al Ahli brief relief, but it has done little to quiet the noise surrounding the club. Goals from Francisco Trincao and a brace from Ivan Toney secured a 3-1 victory that lifted the team to fifth in the Saudi Pro League with 12 points from seven games. The result matters, but the manner of the performance kept scrutiny on head coach Marino Positic firmly in place, with analysts noting that structural problems in the team were visible even in victory.

The win follows a bruising run that included a 3-2 defeat to Al Qadsiah, a result that sparked serious public debate about Positic's future. Television programmes and pundits openly questioned whether the club should act before the situation worsens, with comparisons drawn to the departure of his predecessor Matthias Jaissle. Positic has publicly acknowledged issues within the squad, but fan patience is thin.

Off the pitch, Ukrainian winger Artem Bondarenko continues to attract attention for the wrong reasons, while the club's pursuit of Marcelo Brozovic ended without agreement. Toney leads the league scoring charts with 10 goals and remains the team's most reliable outlet.

Attention now turns to Tuesday's AFC Champions League Elite home fixture against Pakhtakor Tashkent. With domestic form fragile and continental football arriving quickly, how Positic manages this congested period could define the direction of Al Ahli's season.