Al-Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou said his decision to bench Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half of the 3-2 victory over Al-Ettifaq was based on the need for a “different approach”.
Ronaldo’s withdrawal came during a difficult match for Al-Nassr, who were 2-0 down and had been reduced to 10 players for more than an hour after goalkeeper Bento was sent off.
The substitution proved significant as Al-Nassr launched a comeback against Al-Ettifaq, with Sadio Mane scoring twice to help secure all three points in the Saudi Pro-League fixture.
Ronaldo was seen reacting angrily as he left the field after being taken off. Postecoglou was subsequently asked about the decision during his post-match press conference and explained that the change was intended to give his side a better chance of recovering from the setback.
The Australian coach did not suggest that the decision was linked to Ronaldo’s individual form. Instead, he pointed to the circumstances of the match and the way Al-Nassr had been forced to play after Bento’s dismissal.
With Al-Nassr facing a two-goal deficit while playing with 10 men, Postecoglou opted to alter the team’s approach rather than continue with the same plan. That decision was followed by a dramatic turnaround, with Mane finding the net twice as Al-Nassr completed the win.
The result means Ronaldo has registered one goal in two games during the 2026-2027 season. His substitution, however, became one of the main talking points from the match because of his visible frustration and the timing of the change.
Al-Nassr’s victory was achieved despite the early setbacks. Al-Ettifaq had established a 2-0 advantage, while Bento’s red card left Postecoglou’s side with the additional challenge of playing most of the match a player short.
Rather than allowing those setbacks to determine the outcome, Al-Nassr reacted after the break. Mane’s two goals turned the contest in their favour and gave the home side a notable comeback win.
Postecoglou’s explanation focused on the tactical demands of the game, while Ronaldo’s response highlighted the tension of a match in which Al-Nassr had to balance the need for attacking players with the disadvantage of having only 10 men.
The coach’s comments came after a substitution that initially attracted attention because it involved one of Al-Nassr’s most prominent players. The eventual result, though, gave the decision a positive context, with the team recovering from 2-0 down to beat Al-Ettifaq 3-2.
