"When the team excels, it gives me the opportunity to score, we deserved to win and we played a beautiful match,” said Mitrovic.

“We have a great group of players, and a skilled coach who makes the matches easy for us, and we always work hard and diligently, and we follow the coach's instructions.”

Head coach Jorge Jesus was equally buoyant after seeing his side win their fourth consecutive match to stay top of the West Zone but stressed that it has not been easy for Al Hilal with the format introduced this year. 

"There was an offensive distinction in today's match, we achieved victory, and now we are working to recover to continue the competition,” said the Portuguese.

“Although we conceded fewer goals last season than this season, we are facing teams with top-class players who are capable of making a difference. We are constantly working to improve all aspects of our game.”

Esteghlal head coach Pitso Mosimane, in admitting that Al Hilal were the better side, is hopeful that improvements will show in coming matches after he’s able to spend a longer period with the team.

"Today we saw the big differences between the two teams,” said Mosimane. “We lost the services of three key players but it is not an excuse, we have to accept the result because we faced a great team

"I am unlucky because a number of players are injured, it is true that it is part of the game, but it makes the job of any coach difficult.

"I only had five training sessions and three matches with Esteghlal, and I feel that we have started to develop. I accepted the job knowing the problems surrounding the team.”