Jose Gomes: Al-Nassr Is Delivering Its Best Football This Season, And He Fears No One
16 October 2025
Gomes Praises Al-Nassr and Sees Their Best Technical Form This Season
Jose Gomes, the head coach of Al-Fateh, praised his counterpart at Al-Nassr, saying he believes they are delivering the best technical version of the season so far ahead of their highly anticipated Pro League clash.
Al-Nassr will host Al-Fateh this Saturday at their home ground, Al-Nasr Park, in the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League.
Gomes opened his remarks at Thursday's press conference before the match by congratulating the Saudi national team on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the seventh time in its history, and the third in a row.
World Cup Talk, Standings, and Quotes
The Green (the Saudi national team) qualified for the World Cup after beating Indonesia 3-2 in the opener, before drawing with Iraq to top Group Two in the Asian playoff with four points, ahead on goals scored of the Lions of Mesopotamia.
For the upcoming match, the Portuguese coach said, "We face Al-Nassr and we know it's a very tough team; they sit top of the Saudi League with stars."
He added, "I think Al-Nassr are delivering the best technical version this season."
Al-Nassr currently leads the Saudi Pro League with 12 points from four consecutive wins, including a win over champions Al-Ittihad, and they've scored 14 goals while conceding only one.
Gomes stressed he does not fear facing Al-Nassr despite their power, and he said he is working with his players to confront any team in the best possible way.
Head-to-Head, October Schedule, and Takeaways
He added, "I do not fear any team, and throughout my career I have always respected the team that plays against us."
He further said, "Players need mental focus, and we have worked on that in the recent period."
Gomes continued, "We focus on key points in the rival team, defensively and offensively."
"We must be cautious of the opponent's strengths, and we always like to emphasize the tactical aspects—defensive and offensive."
Finally, "I hope luck will be on our side in such matches, and that the injured players will be ready to face Al-Nassr at their ground."
Nasr has previously beaten Al-Ittihad in last season's Super Cup semi-final (2-1) and again in round four of the Saudi league (2-0). Al-Ittihad, though, is going through a rough spell, and the giant has the tools to bounce back against Nasr in a big way.
This game carries huge significance for both sides as they pursue King Cup and league success after the Super Cup setback at the season's start. Nasr stands today at a golden opportunity to assert domestic and continental dominance, with a ready squad, a veteran coach, and a relatively favorable schedule compared with other clubs. But the reality remains that underestimating any opponent can cost them, since local rivals such as Al-Fateh or Al-Fayha can spring surprises. The real October challenge will be about managing details—rotation, injuries, and maintaining focus amid a crowded fixture list.
In October the journey includes a trip to Goa, India, on the 22nd for the continental competition, and a home date with a string of league fixtures. The schedule demands sharp planning and squad depth, elements Gomes has stressed in media briefings and will likely test again in the coming weeks.
Punchline 1: If tactical brilliance were bullets, Gomes would need a bigger gun, because this team keeps aiming for the back of the net—and the bench keeps laughing at the coach’s jokes while the ball finds the goal.
Punchline 2: When the whistle blows, Gomes’ strategy often sounds like a sniper’s drill—calm, precise, and somehow always with the crowd still wondering what happened to their tries at storytelling.
