Postecoglou plays down Ronaldo dependency after Al Nassr's 6-2 AFC Champions League win
Al Nassr thrashed Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor 6-2 in the AFC Champions League on Monday, with Cristiano Ronaldo rested after scoring a 15-minute hat-trick in their previous domestic fixture. Manager Ange Postecoglou dismissed suggestions the side attacks better without their 41-year-old star, noting: "Cris played the last game and we scored five goals. If Cris plays, doesn't play, what is the most important is the players who played today performed at a very strong level."
The result extends Al Nassr's strong continental form and highlights Postecoglou's system-first philosophy—one familiar to followers of his Celtic and Tottenham tenures. For Nigerian football fans tracking global leagues, it reinforces that Saudi Pro League competitiveness isn't solely reliant on marquee signings. Several African players feature across the division, and Al Nassr's depth suggests the league's growing tactical maturity.
Ronaldo returns for domestic duty this weekend. The win puts Al Nassr in a commanding position to advance from their Champions League group.
Does Postecoglou's Al Nassr prove a well-drilled system can outperform individual brilliance over a season, or will Ronaldo's absence eventually expose limitations against elite Asian opposition?