“Players Were Hallucinating & Losing Consciousness” – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi League Dream Threatened By Ex-Al Nassr Boss’ Confessions

Al Nassr has an enormous challenge at their hands. The team is approaching the business end of the season and is yet to get their hands on any major silverware. Cristiano Ronaldo has always been known for his mentality and desire to win but a 2nd consecutive season without a title would be a dark spot in his illustrious career. After crashing out of the AFC Champions League, CR7 and his men can only achieve their dream if they lift the Saudi league title or the King’s Cup. However, it will not be easy with the treacherous heat of the Middle East coming up.

Expressing his worries, former Al Nassr boss, Rui Vitoria narrated an eye-opening tale on the weather conditions, which could be a big setback to the team’s hopes. While players have been enjoying their time in Saudi Arabia, summer is a different gravy. Temperatures usually soar in the Middle East, making it tough. From his own experiences, Vitoria stated, “There is always a problem, which is the temperature. When we were playing in Jeddah, there were players hallucinating and losing consciousness between halftime.” This heat is known to test teams for their grit and determination.

Summers in the Middle East see temperatures soar over 45°C, making it tough for any club playing there. However, with a promise made to the fans, it doesn’t seem like Cristiano Ronaldo will let heat determine his future, won’t he?

Do players struggle with the extreme heat? What about Cristiano Ronaldo?

While temperatures in Saudi Arabia will surely test Cristiano Ronaldo and his men, it isn’t the player’s first season in the country. Players in the Middle East have been provided with top-of-the-line facilities to ensure they maintain their fitness, even in adverse situations. Nick Worth, former Medical Services Director at Al Jazira Club, once told the National News, “Dehydration is a massive impairment to performance, as much as it is cramping of muscles, It also affects your thought processes, so that you can’t perform. Your decision-making is impaired sometimes by it if you are not adequately hydrated”. Even CR7 made a mention of heat in an interview.

“The biggest difference I have found in Saudi is obviously the heat and adapting schedules to train later in the day when it is cooler. But I have really gotten used to that now”. It is said that players make the most of the facilities to keep themselves in shape with ice-cold baths and heat-resistant jackets known to be their greatest ally. It will be interesting to see how Cristiano and his Al Nassr teammates perform in these adverse conditions, with everything at stake!

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