Al-Hilal fire Diaz after Esteghlal defeat

DUBAI: Saudi Professional League champions Al-Hilal have fired manager Ramon Diaz — just three months after he led them to the final of the Asian Champions League.

The Riyadh club made the announcement hours after the team lost 1-0 to Esteghlal in Matchday 2 of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night, citing “unsatisfactory performances in recent weeks.”

U-23 head coach Juan Ignacio Brown has been appointed interim manager.

The statement added that the club board held several meetings with Diaz, 58, during the past few weeks to “discuss some of his decisions, and overall management of the team, in order to improve results.”

Arab News reported last month his position was under scrutiny following a run of four draws in seven league games and a shock King’s Cup round of 16 defeat to relegation-threatened Al-Qadisiyah. Diaz would have been hoping the Asian Champions League might have provided him with some respite, but Al-Hilal have failed to score in games against Al-Ain and Esteghlal, and sit bottom of the group.

Injuries have not helped. Brazilian playmaker Carlos Eduardo has been out since November with a cruciate knee ligament injury, Asian Player of the Year Omar Khribin has been missing with ankle and hamstring trouble, while Saudi Arabia international midfielders Salman Al-Faraj and Nawaf Al-Abed have also spent a considerable amount of time on the sideline. Diaz also had to do without the services of key winger Salem Al-Dawsari who joined month.

The Argentine, who had been in charge for 16 months, may have a case for feeling slightly hard done by as Al-Hilal are on course to retain their Saudi Pro League title — they are four points clear with only five games remaining — while Diaz won the league and club double last season, winning 30 of his 41 league games in charge, and his side were only beaten by the odd goal in the final of the AFC Champions League.

“Al-Hilal board has offered gratitude and appreciation to the Argentine manager Mr. Ramon Diaz for the significant contribution he has made to the club during his coaching career,” read a club statement.

Ignacio Brown’s first match in charge will on March 2 when the Blues welcome third-placed Al-Faisaly in the league, before facing Qatar’s Al-Rayyan in Riyadh in Matchday 3 of the AFC Champions League. Villarreal on loan last