Al-Nasr's coach, Portuguese Jorge Jesus, expressed his satisfaction with the result achieved by his team against Al-Kholoud, stressing that the team succeeded in achieving the main goal of collecting the three points and keeping a clean sheet, in his statements following the match in the Roshan Professional League competitions.
In the post-match press conference, Jesus provided a detailed analysis of the team's performance, saying: “We achieved our objective in today's match against Al-Khuloud. In the first half, we didn't create many chances, but in the second half, we created numerous opportunities and scored three goals. The important thing is that we kept a clean sheet, and we will continue to work hard, as we have an important match in three days, and we must prepare for it with full force.”.
Winning mentality and competing for the title
This match comes amidst an exceptionally competitive season in the Saudi Professional League, which has attracted some of the world's biggest stars, raising the bar for all teams. Al-Nassr currently sits high in the standings and is striving to close the gap with the league leaders, making every match a must-win final. Coach Jesus emphasized this mentality, saying, "We don't pay attention to other teams; we approach every match with a winning mentality, and that's been our approach in recent games. In the first half, we weren't a quick-thinking team, but we spoke with the players at halftime, and that made all the difference. The league will be very tough this season.".
The impact of Brozovic's absence on the midfield
Jesus didn't overlook the tactical impact of the absence of one of the team's key players, Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic. Brozovic is known for his exceptional ability to control the tempo of the game and link the lines, in addition to his pivotal defensive roles that provide the team with significant balance. The Portuguese coach explained the impact of his absence, saying, "What happened today has nothing to do with the performance of the strikers, who didn't put in enough effort, but rather with the team's balance, which Brozovic usually provides. He's the player who primarily handles defensive equilibrium." This statement highlights Brozovic's crucial tactical importance in Jesus's system and how his absence can alter the entire team's dynamics, something the coach is taking into account for upcoming matches.
A forward-looking vision and boundless ambition
Jesus concluded his remarks with a tone of defiance and optimism, reiterating that the team's ambitions wouldn't end with this victory. With the competition intensifying across all domestic and continental tournaments, the veteran coach understands that maintaining the players' focus and readiness is key to success. "Our goal is to win every upcoming match," he said. He added that the team would continue working in this manner to compete strongly for the league title this season and bring joy to its fans, who have high expectations given the club's strong support.
