Al Nassr Boss Breaks Silence on Benching Sadio Mane Ahead of Al Hilal Clash – “Did Not Think About The Next Match”

Al Nassr has upgraded their squad with many new arrivals this season. In spite of having Cristiano Ronaldo, the club felt the need to bring more players into the squad. One of their major signings has been Sadio Mane from Bayern Munich. However, the player was benched in the last match against Al Akhdoud. In an interesting reveal, the coach talks about the exact reason he was left off the starting eleven.

Being there for the team as the next most important player after CR7, Mane proved his worth by scoring goals too. He also filled in the spot when the Portuguese captain could not play in a couple of games due to injury. However, the case was different yesterday.

Why was Sadio Mane dropped?

The Senegalese star just returned to the camp after a successful international break. Eagerly waiting to start, the former Liverpool winger was left out of yesterday’s league game. With fans and the media curious about the decision, coach Luis Castro quickly clarified. He was asked if Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic were left out because of the upcoming match against Al Hilal. The coach replied, “I did not think about the next match, but rather I thought about the previous matches and their late arrival.”

The Portuguese coach seems to be clear about what he expects and can take some necessary steps if needed. But the former Shakhtar Donetsk coach rates Sadio Mane highly, who has already scored 9 goals this season for the club. Earlier this month, Castro praised Mane after his important goal against Al Ettifaq in the King’s Cup at Alawwal Park. Castro praised his natural movement in the box and ability to score goals. However, after missing the last fixture, Mane hopes to be included in the mega upcoming battle.

Al Nassr gearing up for a rival battle against Al Hilal

Sadio Mane and Al Nassr will be moving towards two important games in the coming week. They will take on Persepolis in the AFC Champions League to seal the top spot in the group. But the main focus will be on their game against Al Hilal. Their last meeting ended in a victory for Al Nassr in the Arab Cup final.

READ MORE – Cristiano Ronaldo Escapes Potential Injury As Al Nassr’s Captain Suffers From Back Pain Against Al Akhdoud

The top two ranked clubs on the table will battle it out for supremacy in the country. Although Al Hilal is ahead of Al Nassr by a point with a game in hand, this game will set the tone for the rest of the season. Whether the coach will include the Senegalese star and Marcelo Brozovic is yet to be seen. Or is the fanbase heading for another surprise? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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