Ivan Toney has criticized Saudi football chiefs over Al-Ahli's treatment ahead of the Super Cup final clash with Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.
Toney publicly airs his frustrationsSuggests Ronaldo's team get preferential treatmentTwo sides face off in Super Cup finalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The former Brentford forward has been left fuming over Al-Ahli's treatment in Hong Kong ahead of the Super Cup final with Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Toney claims his side were the 'most hated' in the region and thus were asked to train on below-par pitches and handed the least favourable training times. Indeed, Ronaldo's side were welcomed to training at 5.30pm, while Toney's team had to wait until 8pm.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Toney and Ronaldo go head-to-head in the final of the Super Cup after ending last season as the Saudi Pro League's two top goalscorers. Toney bagged 23 to Ronaldo's 25, but the ex-Bees forward also helped Al-Ahli land the AFC Champions League Elite trophy.
WHAT TONEY SAID
Toney said: "To be honest, the preparation and how we've been treated is crazy. We've been on the worst pitch, and trained after other teams. We've been the most hated, the team nobody wants to win; it gives us that extra hunger and fight to win something against these teams. You saw in the semi-final: we had no remorse, we wanted to score more and more, and we did."
AFPWHAT NEXT?
The two sides play the final at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday, before the Saudi Pro League begins in earnest on Thursday, where defending champions Al-Ittihad kick-off on Saturday.