Al Nassr coach, Postecoglou speaks after team scores six goals without Ronaldo

Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has dismissed suggestions that his team performs better offensively when Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the pitch.

The Saudi Pro League side recorded an emphatic 6-2 victory over Uzbek club Pakhtakor in their AFC Champions League encounter on Monday.

Ronaldo was absent from the matchday squad and did not feature against the Uzbek side, as the coaching staff opted to rest the 41-year-old forward.

The decision came despite the Portuguese captain scoring a hat-trick in just 15 minutes during Al-Nassr’s previous domestic fixture.

Following the victory, Postecoglou was asked about the team’s attacking performance without their star forward.

“Cris played the last game and we scored five goals,” the manager said.

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He added: “If Cris plays, doesn’t play, what is the most important is the players who played today performed at a very strong level.” Postecoglou’s comments emphasised the contribution of the players who featured rather than suggesting Ronaldo’s absence made the team more effective.