Cristiano Ronaldo and his team recently participated in the Riyadh Season Cup, which highlighted the vast difference in skill between the top two teams in Saudi Arabia. Jorge Jesus, the coach, confidently stated before the match that they would defeat Al Nassr by three goals. However, with Al Hilal dominating the league, Luis Castro and his team have shifted their focus to the AFC Champions League. According to reports, they have already begun preparations with an unexpected group of players.
In the coming days, the Knights of Najd will be conducting a practice session, joined by the Saudi Arabia Olympic soccer team. This U23 team represents the country on the global stage and has proven their capabilities by winning the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Castro believes that this collaboration will benefit Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates ahead of their crucial Round of 16 match against Al Fayha on February 14.
A recent report explained the need for this practice session following Al Hilal’s defeat. It appears that the Portuguese coach used the Riyadh Cup as an opportunity to identify new players, but this alone is not enough to face Al Fayha.
Despite their strong performance in the AFC Champions League, Al Nassr has struggled in the league. They remained undefeated in the group stages with four victories, making Ronaldo and his team hopeful for a trophy. Xavi, the legendary midfielder and current Barcelona coach, who has experience playing and coaching in Qatar, also believes that Saudi clubs are the best in Asia.
While Al Fayha is currently in 14th place in the league and not in the best form, the Champions League is a knockout tournament where one bad game can end it all. Therefore, Al Nassr will rely on Cristiano Ronaldo, known as “Mr. Champions League,” to lead them to victory.
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According to the Source essentiallysports.com