Al-Nassr's Portuguese coach, Luis Castro, expressed his complete satisfaction with the performance and result following his team's important 2-0 victory over Al-Fateh in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This win not only added three valuable points to Al-Nassr's tally but also strengthened their position in the fierce competition for the league title.
In the post-match press conference, Castro revealed his tactical philosophy, emphasizing that keeping a clean sheet is the cornerstone of victory. He said, “I always believe that the team that manages to keep a clean sheet is the closest to winning any match. This is what we constantly work on in training, and today the players showed great defensive discipline.”.
Competition context of the Roshan League
This victory comes at a crucial juncture in the 2023-2024 season, a season considered historic by all accounts for the Saudi League. With the sovereign wealth fund's clubs attracting world-class stars, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, Neymar at Al-Hilal, and Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad, the competition has intensified to an unprecedented degree. Castro alluded to this point, saying, “The competition this season is extremely fierce, with at least three or four teams vying for the title. We are aware of the challenge, and our goal is to continue fighting in every match to remain in the thick of the title race until the very end.”.
The importance of winning and its impact on the league standings
This victory raised Al-Nassr's points tally to 52, temporarily narrowing the gap with league leaders Al-Hilal to just one point and widening the gap with third-placed Al-Ahli to two points. This close competition intensifies the battle for the top spot, making every upcoming match a final for the league's top teams. Regionally and internationally, the results of teams like Al-Nassr now garner widespread global attention, with millions eagerly anticipating the performances of their favorite stars, thus placing positive pressure on players and coaches to deliver their best.
Castro concluded his remarks by affirming his complete confidence in his players' abilities, noting that since taking over the team, he has believed in their potential to compete strongly for all titles. He added that the fighting spirit and determination the team has shown will be their most important weapons in the crucial remaining stages of the season.
