Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus said that his side outperformed Pitso Mosimane's Esteghlal FC, and earned their emphatic victory on Monday night.
The Saudi Pro League outfit beat the Iranian side by three goals to nil on Monday night, handing the South African tactician his third defeat since being appointed as manager.
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A hat-trick by forward Aleksandar Mitrovic ensured that the Blue Wave made it four wins out of four in the AFC Champions League this season, and that the side keep their place at the top of Group B.
After the 3-0 victory, Jesus commented on his team's performance and looked delighted with his players.
"We outperformed Esteghlal in attack, earning the win," the 70-year-old said per Asharq Sports.
"Now, we'll focus on swift recovery for upcoming competitions.
"We're fortunate to have three reliable defenders - [Kalidou] Koulibaly, [Ali] Albulayhi, and [Hassan] Altambakti - allowing us to manage the squad carefully and maintain rotation to prevent injuries," he added.
Brazilian star Neymar was also involved in the action, coming off the bench in the 58th minute to make his second appearance of the season after being sidelined for over a year through injury.
However, the former Barcelona forward was then taken off the pitch in the 87th minute after picking up yet another knock.
"His return won't be easy; he's constantly exposed to strong tackles due to his position (left wing)," Jesus added.
"I believe his new injury is muscular, not related to his knee. He might be sidelined for two weeks."
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Mosimane, meanwhile, is still searching for his first victory as Esteghlal manager, and will be looking to do so when his side face Mes Rafsanjan FC in a league clash on Saturday.
By Junaid Benjamin
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