Ange Postecoglou Defends Cristiano Ronaldo After Al Nassr's Heavy Defeat to Al Ain

Ange Postecoglou was forced to defend Cristiano Ronaldo after Al Nassr were trounced 4-0 by Al Ain. The Saudi Pro League champions travelled to the UAE as strong favourites ahead of their AFC Champions League Elite opener, but they were soundly beaten as the Rahimi brothers, Houssine and Soufiane, led a sparkling display by the UAE champions.

After a bright start under Postecoglou’s tenure as manager, Nassr’s form has dipped in recent games. Earlier in the season, the Australian coach was forced to substitute Ronaldo at half-time in a game against Al Ettifaq when he made his return after playing for Portugal at the World Cup. Nassr had been 2-0 down at that stage, but they bounced back without their talisman to win 3-2, despite playing with 10 men after an early red card. Ronaldo has scored three league goals in the time since, but he cut a frustrated figure in the capitulation against Al Ain.

“Cristiano has scored three goals already,” Postecoglou said. “He had a limited preparation for the season because of his participation in the World Cup. This is not about the players. The players are giving everything, and they're top players and they've got great character. The responsibility is mine, OK? It's mine. But you shouldn't say that about somebody who is still setting an example for everyone.”

“And you should be careful when you say things like that about people who have built a career on making all the sacrifices to keep playing. You can criticise me, no problem. Did Ronaldo not score in three games? Did he not have chances today?”

Ronaldo's main involvements in the game were ineffective. In the second minute, as Nassr counterattacked after Al Ain had hit their post, he tumbled over when through on goal. Later, as the game ran away from them, he had an overhead kick that went harmlessly into the stand behind the goal, and saw a freekick saved by Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Essa. When it was put to Postecoglou that Ronaldo had done nothing in the past three games, he said: “Well, you're watching a different game to me.”

Postecoglou has become increasingly spiky in recent weeks. Having started his tenure as Nassr coach with five wins, they have now won once, drawn, and lost twice in their past four games. The Australian coach reasoned that his players are paying for a schedule that has seen them play so many fixtures in sapping weather conditions.

“In the hottest part of the year, you have nine games,” Postecoglou said in a terse exchange with reporters in the post-match press conference. “Have a look at how many they have played in the same time. You don't like my answer. You keep asking the same question, but the players are tired. I can see that, they're giving everything. The responsibility for the result is me. Maybe I'm a bad coach, maybe you're right, I'm a bad coach. But in terms of the players, they're giving everything.”