Al-Nassr supervisor Stefano Pioli says he believes his group performed effectively regardless of dealing with criticism after a 0-0 draw towards Esteghlal in Tehran within the first leg of their AFC Champions League spherical of 16 tie.
Former AC Milan boss Pioli has did not win 11 of his 30 video games since succeeding Portuguese coach Luis Castro on the Saudi Professional League membership on September 18, together with two defeats and one victory of their final 5 matches in all competitions.
“I’m proud of the group’s efficiency,” Pioli stated, through ByanNassr. “We should not overlook that there’s [the second leg] in Riyadh.”
Al-Nassr’s first ever defeat to Al-Orobah final Friday, which got here towards Saudi Professional League opponents who completed second within the second tier final season, means they’re 10 factors behind leaders Al-Ittihad in fourth with 11 video games of their league marketing campaign remaining.
Some followers voiced their dissatisfaction with Pioli on X following the stalemate with Esteghlal on the 78,116-capacity Azadi Stadium, the place Jhon Duran – a £65 million January signing from Aston Villa – went closest for the guests towards the ninth-placed group in Iran, hitting a put up and repeatedly being foiled by goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.
Who can get previous Seyed Hosseini? 🧤#ACLElite | #ESTvNSR pic.twitter.com/TYaBXJR9zl
— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) March 3, 2025
Pioli: ‘Would you like Al-Nassr to succeed?’
Account Al Nassr Zone, which has greater than 61,000 followers, called for Pioli’s exit and recommended he had been employed to make supporters “endure”, accusing the 59-year-old and his workers of doing a “horrible job” and giving Cristiano Ronaldo’s group “no id”.
“You might want to take motion as a result of the scenario is getting worse daily,” the account informed membership chief govt Majed Jaman Alsorour. “Would you like Al-Nassr to succeed? If you happen to do, then issues want to vary as quickly as potential.”
Al-Nassr host sixth-placed Al-Shabab on Friday (7pm GMT) of their home high flight. The second leg towards Esteghlal will happen on March 10 (6pm GMT).
An evening to overlook for Al Nassr in assault, however one to recollect for Esteghlal’s defence! #ACLElite | #ESTvNSR pic.twitter.com/rf7RnFbsaR
— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) March 3, 2025
Why did Ronaldo not play for Al Nassr in Iran?
Pioli stated there have been “bodily causes” for captain and Saudi Professional League high scorer Ronaldo lacking the spherical journey of round 2,200 miles, Al Jazirah reported.
The outlet stated Pioli had not wished to danger a extra severe harm for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who shared a message of help for his group on his Instagram account – the most-followed on the platform – hours earlier than kick-off, telling them: “Let’s go”.
Earlier than the sport, the DPA information company, through MailOnline, reported that Al-Nassr had written to organisers asking for the sport to be performed “on impartial floor” due to “Ronaldo’s dangerous expertise in Tehran”.
Police reportedly needed to disperse crowds who mobbed Al-Nassr’s resort once they visited Tehran membership Persepolis in September 2023.
Ronaldo was not concerned when Al-Nassr drew 0-0 at Azadi Stadium towards Persepolis, who additionally use the bottom, on February 17, though his facet had already certified for the final 16 by that time.
Talisca: Al Nassr’s ‘actual mistake’
Writing on X on Friday, former Al-Nassr ahead Talisca claimed he “is aware of the place the actual mistake is” on the membership.
“[Duran] is a good participant and can do rather a lot for this membership,” stated Talisca, who left for Fenerbahce on January 29, responding to a listing of the previous Aston Villa striker’s stats towards Al-Orobah printed by ByanNassr.
“The issue is that you just all the time wish to discover somebody guilty for the defeats, however you don’t see the place the actual mistake lies.
“Cease appearing like this on a regular basis. You already know the place the error is, you’re simply afraid to say it. On high of that, you wish to do to Duran what they did to me, to profit others.”
He is a good participant and can do rather a lot for this membership. The issue is that you just all the time wish to discover somebody guilty for the defeats, however you don’t see the place the actual mistake lies. Cease appearing like this on a regular basis
You already know the place the error is, you’re simply afraid to say it, lol
— Andersontalisca (@talisca_aa) February 28, 2025
And on high of that, you wish to do to Doran what they did to me, to profit others.”
— Andersontalisca (@talisca_aa) February 28, 2025
Esteghlal vs Al-Nassr
Pioli made 4 adjustments towards Esteghlal, bringing in Sadio Mane for Ronaldo, full-back Nawaf Boushal for Majed Qashish and wingers Awad Ali Al-Hassan and Ayman Yahya for Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhem and Wesley Teixeira.
The hosts fielded a five-man defence and had 29% of first-half possession, however Iran nationwide group newcomer Mohammad Reza Azadi examined Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento with an angled drive.
Throughout an end-to-end encounter, Ramin Rezaeian brilliantly headed Ayman Yahya’s header off the road after Iran worldwide Hosseini had saved out Duran’s shot together with his legs.
Esteghlal threatened after the break when Armin Sohrabian headed over in area, marking a shiny restart after Kyrgyzstan ahead Joel Kojo got here on for Azadi at half-time.
Sohrabian turned supplier to provide a golden alternative shortly afterwards, discovering Rezaeian in entrance of purpose with a looking out cross from the left that his fellow wing-back may solely nod the unsuitable facet of a put up.
Ronaldo to face Esteghlal in second leg?
Al-Nassr beat Esteghlal 1-0 by means of former Manchester Metropolis defender Aymeric Laporte’s purpose in Dubai in the course of the group stage on October 22.
Newly managed by former Crvena zvezda boss Miodrag Bozovic, Esteghlal received the AFC Champions League in 1970 and 1991.
The oldest skilled group in Tehran have received the Persian Gulf Professional League 9 instances however are at the moment ninth out of 16 golf equipment within the division after profitable solely six of their first 21 league video games of the season.
Ronaldo has six targets on this season’s AFC Champions League because the 40-year-old seems to be so as to add to his solitary trophy since becoming a member of Al-Nassr at the beginning of 2023, profitable the Arab Membership Champions Cup that yr.
4 of these targets have are available in his final three appearances within the competitors, scoring twice every away to Qatari opponents Al-Gharafa on November 25 and at residence to Emirati group Al-Wasl on February 3.
