Despite Big Names Including Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr Boss Unimpressed With ‘Defensive Problems’

Al Nassr, boasting the undeniable star power of Cristiano Ronaldo, emerged victorious against Damac FC. The match resulted in a 2-1 victory for the Knights of Najd, with moments of free-kick brilliance from both Ronaldo and Talisca. While the forwards exuded confidence, there was another concern that was visible to the Al Nassr boss. The head coach expressed his dissatisfaction with the ‘defensive problems’ of the team after the match.

Behind the curtain of Cristiano Ronaldo’s excellence, there lies a story of major concern for the Al Nassr manager. As the gaffer spoke after the match, he was keen to address the internal problems in the squad.

Despite the support from Cristiano Ronaldo, defensive troubles plague Al-Nassr

As the final whistle blew and Al Nassr celebrated their impressive victory over rivals, it wasn’t the attacking capabilities of the team that weighed on head coach Luis Castro‘s mind. Instead, it was the vulnerabilities that surfaced in their defense.

Despite having a solid star-studded squad, Castro couldn’t help but notice the defensive shortcomings that have plagued the team throughout the season. Speaking after the match, he stated, “The match was difficult, and we played against a respectable team that knows how to attack and defend. They caused us a lot of problems. Today there were problems in the defense line and the pressure on the opponent. Regardless of the participating names, we had defensive problems since the beginning of the season.”

Although with the help of Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr has scored the highest number of goals in the Saudi Pro League until now, it is the goals that they have conceded, that leave Castro concerned. In a total of 10 matches, the Knights of Najd have scored 28 goals, one more than rivals Al Hilal, but conceded 13, which is higher than other rivals.

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo Shuts Down Al Nassr Extension Rumors With 1 Reason After Ending Freekick Drought vs Damac

In the Damac match, it was quite evident, as any deep pass into the field easily dismantled Al Nassr’s defensive structure, giving the opponents ample opportunities to target the goal. In total, Damac managed a staggering 16 shots, with 6 of them on target.

Despite the huge investments in the transfer market, it seems like it’ll not be enough for Al Nassr, as head coach Castro will look forward to bolstering the defending ranks.

Will Al-Nassr’s defensive woes force them into the transfer market once again?

Al Nassr’s defensive woes threaten to derail their title ambitions. It is interesting to know that Al Nassr has splurged huge amounts of money lately to bolster their squad. With the arrival of Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, Marcelo Brozovic, and Seko Fofana, the current defensive struggles have raised doubts among experts.

As the Saudi giants are on their way to building the Saudi League more competitive, it seems inevitable that Al Nassr will splash some big bucks to sign a key central defender.

The question that looms large is whether they will be compelled to venture into the transfer market once more to address these defensive errors. While the allure of marquee signings is undeniable, it’s the chemistry and consistency of the defending line that defines the title-winning team.

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