Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has defended his decision to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at half-time during his team’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Al-Ettifaq.
Ronaldo, 41, was making his first start since the World Cup but was withdrawn during the interval with Al-Nassr two goals down and reduced to 10 men. The decision appeared to frustrate the Portuguese star, who gestured towards the bench as he walked off the pitch. However, the tactical change proved effective as Sadio Mane and Abdulelah Al Amri scored within three minutes of each other to restore parity before Mane completed the comeback with a stoppage-time winner.
Postecoglou said he made the change because he felt the substitutes could have a greater influence on the game under the circumstances. “When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact,” Postecoglou said. The Australian praised the substitutes for their contribution to the victory, adding, “I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.”
Despite taking Ronaldo off, Postecoglou was full of praise for the forward’s display in the opening 45 minutes. “I’m here to help the team with what I see, and everyone knows that Ronaldo hasn’t played in a long time,” he said. “He performed exceptionally well in the first half, and we opted for a different approach.” The result extended Al-Nassr’s perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season, with three wins from three games placing them at the top of the table.
Postecoglou, who took charge of Al-Nassr last month after previous spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, is overseeing the club during what could be the final season of Ronaldo’s playing career. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has suggested he could retire at the end of the campaign, with the veteran forward reportedly looking to devote more time to his family.
