A heated exchange took place between Al Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou and a reporter over Cristiano Ronaldo following the Saudi club’s 4-0 defeat to Al Ain in their opening AFC Champions League Elite match.
The reporter questioned whether Ronaldo’s presence in the team was genuinely benefiting Al Nassr, arguing that the club had played better football and won more matches when the Portuguese forward was absent.
Postecoglou Defends Ronaldo
Postecoglou rejected the suggestion and defended Ronaldo, saying the players were working hard and that all of the team’s key players, including the Portuguese star, were contributing to the side.
When the reporter criticised Ronaldo’s recent performances and claimed that the forward had done little in his previous three matches, Postecoglou immediately challenged the assessment.
“Nothing? Then how many goals does he have?” the coach asked.
Ronaldo scored two goals in Al Nassr’s first three matches of the season, but managed only one goal across his following four games.
Ronaldo Has Limited Impact Against Al Ain
Ronaldo had 29 touches during Al Nassr’s heavy defeat to Al Ain, while the Saudi club managed only three shots on target.
The result marked a difficult start to Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite campaign and prompted questions about the team’s performance and Ronaldo’s role following the loss.