Reasons for Al-Nassr's loss to Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby and the coach's statements

In a thrilling encounter that captivated fans, the Portuguese manager of Al-Nassr revealed the true reasons behind his team's 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Al-Hilal in the 15th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match sparked widespread debate in sporting circles due to its dramatic turn of events.

Exciting statements about the derby events

During the post-match press conference, the Portuguese coach emphasized that the scoreline did not necessarily reflect the team's dominance on the field, stressing that Al-Nassr was the more threatening side in the first half and the beginning of the second. He explained that the turning point of the match was the red card shown to the goalkeeper, a decision he described as harsh, indicating that the incident did not warrant a straight dismissal.

He added in his technical analysis of the match: “We lost our tactical balance immediately after the numerical disadvantage, which is normal in high-tempo derby matches. Al-Hilal exploited this disadvantage thanks to the experience of its players in dealing with such difficult circumstances, and this made the difference in the final minutes.”.

Impact of absences and staff shortages

The coach didn't attribute the defeat solely to refereeing decisions, but also addressed the complex circumstances the team is facing, pointing out that Al-Nassr suffered from significant absences that crippled the team's core. He explained that injuries to defender Simakan and winger Ayman Yahya disrupted both the defensive and offensive plans, in addition to the considerable impact of the absence of Senegalese star Sadio Mane, who is currently with his national team participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, as Mane is one of the team's most important attacking options.

Riyadh Derby: A historic rivalry and competitive dimensions

The Riyadh derby between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal holds immense importance, far exceeding the mere three points at stake. This encounter is considered a showcase for Saudi and Arab football. This derby comes at a time when Saudi sports are experiencing a tremendous boom and attracting some of the world's brightest stars, making every slip-up or mistake costly. This loss is a significant blow to Al-Nassr's title aspirations, as the team is currently striving to find quick solutions to return to winning ways and close the points gap with the league leaders, ensuring they remain in contention for domestic and continental championships.