Coach Postecoglou defends Ronaldo after Al-Nassr's defeat in the UAE
Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou defended Cristiano Ronaldo after the team's 0-4 defeat to Al-Ain in the opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite in Al Ain, UAE. According to The National, the Saudi club arrived for the match as favourites, but the UAE champions secured a resounding victory, with brothers Hussein and Soufiane Rahimi playing a key role in their performance.
Response to criticism of Ronaldo
After the game, Postecoglou responded to criticism of the Portuguese forward. He recalled that Ronaldo has already scored three goals in the league, while his preparation for the season was limited due to his participation in the World Cup with the Portugal national team.
The Australian specialist said that responsibility for the result lies with him, not the players. According to him, Ronaldo continues to set an example for others, while Al-Nassr's players give everything on the pitch. In response to journalists' claims that the forward had allegedly done nothing in the last three matches, the coach said they were watching a different game.
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Match incidents and schedule
In the match against Al-Ain, Ronaldo was unable to significantly influence the course of the game. In the second minute, when Al-Nassr launched a counterattack after an opponent's shot hit the post, he fell while in front of goal. Later, the Portuguese player sent an overhead kick into the stands behind the goal, while his free-kick late in the game was saved by Al-Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eissa.
Postecoglou also linked the team's dip in form to a congested schedule and hot weather. He noted that Al-Nassr had played nine matches during the hottest period of the year, while Al-Ain had played its sixth official match since the start of the season a month earlier. After five wins at the start of Postecoglou's tenure, Al-Nassr recorded one win, one draw and two defeats in its last four matches.
