Ronaldo’s planned comeback from injury revealed as Al-Nassr captain celebrates after late win

Ange Postecoglou says Cristiano Ronaldo’s half-time anger during Al-Nassr’s dramatic victory over Al-Ettifaq was caused by the team’s two-goal deficit, rather than a tactical disagreement or unrest within the squad.

Ronaldo appeared visibly frustrated during the match, but Al-Nassr recovered from being 2-0 down to win 3-2 in what became a remarkable comeback. Their difficult position was made worse by the sending-off of goalkeeper Bento.

Speaking at his pre-match news conference before Friday’s Roshn Saudi League meeting with Al-Taawoun, Postecoglou rejected suggestions that Ronaldo’s reaction pointed to a problem inside the dressing room.

“I understand that Cristiano is a personality everyone wants to know everything about, but it is impossible for me to reveal any secrets,” said the Al-Nassr manager.

“Ronaldo was angry at half-time because we were behind, but in the dressing room after the match, and on the bus, he was dancing and singing. He was in the middle of the players.”

Postecoglou said the Portugal forward’s frustration was a natural consequence of his desire to win and his strong emotional connection with both football and Al-Nassr.

“Believe me, he is passionate about football and passionate about Al-Nassr. He was angry because things were not going as they should at half-time, and that is normal,” he added.

The manager also explained why Ronaldo was substituted at the start of the second half, saying the decision had been agreed in advance as part of a carefully managed plan for the player’s return to full match fitness.

Ronaldo had been building up his playing time gradually after a period away from competitive action. His appearance against Al-Ettifaq was therefore limited to 45 minutes, following a previous outing in which he played for 30 minutes.

“Ronaldo is an exceptional athlete. Our plan was for him to play 45 minutes against Al-Ettifaq because he was returning gradually, and before that he had played 30 minutes,” said Postecoglou.

The Australian stressed that the change was not a response to Ronaldo’s mood or his performance during the match. Instead, it was part of the physical programme decided before kick-off.

Postecoglou says the 41-year-old’s fitness has since improved, creating the possibility of a longer appearance in Al-Nassr’s upcoming fixtures.

“Physically, he now feels better and is able to play a full match,” he said.

The comments are intended to end speculation surrounding images of Ronaldo looking frustrated during the match and after the interval. Those scenes had prompted questions about whether his reaction reflected disappointment with the coaching staff or tensions among the players.

Instead, Postecoglou presented Ronaldo’s behaviour as a normal expression of his competitive character, particularly during a match in which Al-Nassr faced the additional setback of playing without Bento after the goalkeeper’s dismissal.

The team ultimately overturned the 2-0 deficit to secure a 3-2 victory, and the manager’s account of the aftermath offered a stark contrast to Ronaldo’s reaction during the game: the captain’s anger had given way to celebrations with his team-mates in the dressing room and on the journey home.