Ange Postecoglou reveals why Cristiano Ronaldo was withdrawn at half-time in Al Nassr comeback

Al Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has defended his decision to substitute captain Cristiano Ronaldo at half-time during Tuesday’s 3-2 comeback win over Al Ettifaq in the third round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Al Nassr went into the interval two goals behind after being reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Bento. Postecoglou responded by taking off Ronaldo and introducing Abdullah Al-Khaibari, a change that helped his side turn the match around in the second half.

Speaking at his post-match news conference, the Australian said his belief that Al Nassr could recover began to grow during the interval, despite the difficult circumstances facing his team.

He told his players not to surrender and urged them to make better use of the space available on the wings. The adjustments enabled Al Nassr to attack more effectively from wide areas and ultimately overturn a two-goal deficit to secure victory.

According to Saudi newspaper Sport, Postecoglou said Al Ettifaq’s goals were not so concerning that they made a comeback impossible, particularly because both strikes had come from shots. He felt the tactical changes made at half-time could shift the balance of the contest.

The manager also praised the character and fighting spirit shown by his players. He said the result was not achieved solely through tactical changes, but also through the determination of the squad to re-establish itself in the game and claim all three points.

Postecoglou said Al Nassr had also been forced to deal with an absence in goal. Nawaf Al-Aqidi was unavailable because of an injury, which led the coaching staff to select a young goalkeeper who, in the manager’s view, produced a good performance.

He added that Al Nassr consistently demonstrates its character and stature, even when placed under significant pressure.

The Australian further defended the decision to make several changes, including removing Ronaldo from the match. Postecoglou said he had complete confidence that the substitutes could provide the impact the team required.

That trust was rewarded in the second half, as the players helped transform Al Nassr’s performance and delivered the intended response on the pitch. The side recovered from its numerical disadvantage and two-goal deficit to complete a 3-2 victory.

Postecoglou ended his comments by expressing his pride in the players’ determination. He said they had dealt intelligently with challenging circumstances, including exhausting hot weather, before producing a valuable and deserved win.

The victory came after Al Nassr had appeared to be in serious trouble at half-time, with 10 players on the pitch and Al Ettifaq holding a 2-0 lead. Instead, Postecoglou’s changes and his players’ response allowed the team to claim a dramatic comeback in the third round of the Roshn Saudi League.