Postecoglou says fixture congestion has tested Al Nassr ahead of Neftchi tie

Ange Postecoglou says Al Nassr must beat Uzbek side Neftchi on Monday after failing to secure the result they wanted in their opening match of the Asian Champions League Elite.

The Australian manager said the competition was a major priority for his team and that Al Nassr were determined to respond in front of their supporters.

“We are looking forward to the match. The Asian Champions League is an important competition for us, and we did not achieve a good result in our first game,” Postecoglou said in comments reported by Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya.

“We hope to produce a good performance in front of our fans and achieve victory.”

Postecoglou believes a crowded schedule and injuries have affected Al Nassr’s performances in recent weeks. The club’s limited squad has also made it difficult to manage the demands placed on the players.

“We are working hard, but it is difficult to play such a large number of matches in succession,” he said.

“We were good in our first four or five games, but circumstances overcame us because of the fixture congestion.”

The manager was encouraged by the tactical display in Al Nassr’s match last Friday, saying the players had followed his instructions despite the difficulties facing the team.

“The players did everything I asked of them from a tactical point of view last Friday, and I am happy with that,” Postecoglou said.

“Everyone is giving their maximum, especially during difficult periods. We are looking to build on our latest performance and continue improving so that we can achieve success.”

Postecoglou said he would use the final training session before Monday’s game to assess his squad and decide which players were ready to feature.

“We have a training session in which we will assess the condition of the players and their readiness before the match,” he said.

Joao Felix has featured in three different positions since joining the team, and Postecoglou said the priority was to ensure the forward was physically prepared.

“Joao Felix is a wonderful player. He has played in three different positions with us, and the most important thing is to make sure he is physically ready, particularly because he has played many matches since the World Cup,” the manager added.

“We are happy with his ability to play in more than one position.”

Postecoglou also confirmed that Ayman Yahya had suffered an injury and was working to regain his fitness. Sami Al-Najei, meanwhile, had been absent for a full year.

The Australian said those absences had further reduced his options, but stressed that every player in the squad was waiting for an opportunity to play.