Why I substituted Ronaldo at half-time - Postecoglou

Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has shed light on his decision to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo at halftime during the team's dramatic comeback victory over Al-Ettifaq.

Ronaldo, making his first start since the World Cup, was withdrawn at the break with Al-Nassr trailing 2-0 and playing with ten men. The Portuguese star appeared visibly frustrated, gesturing towards the bench as he left the pitch.

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When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact.

However, Postecoglou's tactical move ultimately paid dividends. Al-Nassr mounted a remarkable second-half comeback, with Sadio Mane scoring twice, including the winning goal in added time, to secure a 3-2 victory and maintain their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season.

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I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.

"When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact," Postecoglou stated, as reported by BBC Sport. He emphasized that every substitute contributed positively to the team's turnaround. "I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution."

Postecoglou also acknowledged Ronaldo's performance in the first half, despite the substitution. "Everyone knows that Ronaldo hasn’t played in a long time," he said. "He performed exceptionally well in the first half, and we opted for a different approach." The win propelled Al-Nassr to the top of the league table with three wins from three matches. Postecoglou, who previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, took charge of Al-Nassr last month.

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He performed exceptionally well in the first half, and we opted for a different approach.