Al-Nassr suffered their first defeat of the season after a 2-1 loss to Al-Ittihad in the King’s Cup round of 16 on Tuesday night.
Senegalese forward Sadio Mané shared his thoughts after the elimination, acknowledging the strength of their opponents.
“It was a tough match,” Mané said after the final whistle. “Al-Ittihad played well and, honestly, they deserved to win.
We knew we could have done better, but winning or losing is part of football.”
The defeat ended Al-Nassr’s unbeaten run across all competitions this season. Al-Ittihad’s sharp performance and disciplined defending prevented Al-Nassr from finding their usual rhythm in attack.
Mané and his teammates struggled to convert their chances, while Al-Ittihad capitalized on their opportunities to seal victory.
Despite the disappointment, Mané remained optimistic about the team’s outlook for the rest of the campaign.
“This is our first defeat of the season, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said. “We will continue to work together to do everything we can to win the upcoming matches.”
The loss means Al-Nassr’s journey in the King’s Cup has come to an early end, forcing the team to shift focus entirely to the Saudi Pro League.
Under their captain Cristiano Ronaldo, the Riyadh-based side had gone unbeaten in six league matches, sitting at the top of the table.
Mané emphasized the importance of bouncing back quickly, insisting the team must use the setback as motivation to improve.
“We will stay focused and learn from this,” he noted. “The season is long, and our goals remain the same.”
Al-Nassr will aim to respond in their next league fixture as they look to maintain their position at the summit and continue their strong domestic campaign.
