Saudi Al-Nassr Coach Stands by Ronaldo, Cites Fatigue as Factor

Al-Nassr crashed out of the Saudi Cup after losing 2-1 to Al-Ittihad, marking another trophy disappointment for Cristiano Ronaldo since joining the Saudi club in early 2023. Coach Jorge Jesus defended his decision to keep the 40-year-old Portuguese star on the pitch throughout the match, suggesting Ronaldo remains irreplaceable despite the team's struggles.

This latest setback adds to Ronaldo's growing list of missed opportunities in Saudi Arabia. After losing the Saudi Super Cup final to Al-Ahli at the start of the season, Al-Nassr has now been eliminated from their second competition this year. The defeat came at Al Awwal Park, where Ronaldo faced his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, who celebrated his goal by posting a photo on Instagram showing Ronaldo's dejected silhouette in the background.

The loss stings particularly because Ronaldo has been in excellent form this season, scoring 12 goals so far. But individual brilliance hasn't translated into team success for Al-Nassr, who continue to fall short in crucial matches.

When asked about potentially substituting Ronaldo during the game, Jesus made it clear his captain stays on the field. He pointed out the difference between his situation and that of Al-Ittihad coach Sergio Conceicao, who had pulled Benzema off earlier in the match.

"Al-Ittihad with Sergio was winning and his strategy was different. He wanted to bring in a faster striker," Jesus explained. "Benzema only had a few minutes left to finish the game. That decision only concerns Al-Ittihad's coach."

Jesus emphasized why Ronaldo's situation was completely different: "We were losing and needed attackers to play against a defense line of five players. So it never made sense from a tactical standpoint to substitute Ronaldo."

But here's the thing - Jesus rarely considers benching Ronaldo anyway. The Portuguese coach relies on his star player until the final whistle in most matches. Even with Portugal's national team, Ronaldo has been substituted in three of his four World Cup 2026 qualifying matches, though he still managed to score five goals in those games.

Jesus blamed the defeat on fatigue following the team's recent trip to India, where they beat FC Goa 2-0 in the AFC Champions League 2. The quick turnaround appeared to take its toll on several players.

"I felt the team today was a bit heavy, tired," Jesus said. "It was the third match, especially for Joao Felix. He came back from India sick and was very tired. Today he wasn't the same player, and in last week's match he wasn't at his level either."

The elimination raises questions about Al-Nassr's ability to compete on multiple fronts while managing player fitness. With the Saudi Pro League still their primary focus, the club will need to find ways to rotate their squad more effectively if they want to end Ronaldo's trophy drought in Saudi Arabia.