“The match was intense and complete. The players executed my instructions from the start, though we made some mistakes in the last 10 minutes of the first half. 

However, we recovered well in the second half. Now, we need to rest as our next match is in 48 hours (in the Saudi Pro League),” said Arruabarrena.

Arruabarrena said preparation has been key as Al Taawoun are competing in three tournaments this season.

"We are performing well in the cup and must maintain this momentum in the AFC Champions League. In the league, our focus is on winning the next match.

"We approach all matches consistently, as we have been for the past three months, with proper rest and preparation. Currently, we are competing in three tournaments, but league competitions remain our day-to-day priority."

Despite the defeat, Al Khalidiya head coach Ali Ashour expressed pride in the respect his team has earned, citing Arruabarrena’s tactical approach.

“I take pride in the fact that Al Taawoun’s head coach approached this match as he would against Al Hilal or Al Nassr, deploying three defenders at the back. This is what I told my players after the game – they should be proud of the respect we’ve earned,” said Ashour.

“Congratulations to Al Taawoun on their victory. It was a great match, with both teams showing strong performances. Al Taawoun applied pressure early and closed the spaces effectively. We had three chances but couldn't convert them into goals."

"The second half started similarly to the first. Al Taawoun scored a second goal, which came as a surprise. We tried to equalise but were unsuccessful."

A win for Al Khalidiya against Altyn Asyr of Turkmenistan on Wednesday will take them through, irrespective of Air Force SC’s result against Al Hussein, with the Bahraini side having a better head-to-head record against the Iraqis.