Postecoglou praises Al-Nassr players for handling fixture pressure
Al-Nassr coach Ange Postecoglou commended his squad after three matches in six days, while Al-Riyadh’s coach stressed the need for focus.
Key Takeaways
AIAustralian coach Ange Postecoglou, manager of Al-Nassr, said that playing three matches in six days was a major challenge for his players, praising their performance and ability to secure victory over Al-Riyadh despite fatigue.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Postecoglou noted that the players were not at their usual physical peak compared to previous games, but still delivered a satisfactory level of play. He expressed his happiness with the team's display.
Difference between domestic and continental competitions
Postecoglou also addressed the difference between domestic and continental competitions, explaining that the Asian tournament follows league matches, which gives players greater readiness. He added that there is a difference between playing matches at the start of the season and in the middle of it.
Al-Riyadh coach: Focus was the weak point
For his part, Brazilian coach Mauricio Dulac of Al-Riyadh attributed his team's poor first-half performance to the players not showing their best. He noted that the team improved in the second half, reflecting their footballing identity, despite being aware of Al-Nassr's quality.
Dulac added that the main issue was not tactical, but rather related to focus, explaining that he discussed this aspect with the players during training.