We Are Adventurers: Jesus rates Al-Nassr against Real Madrid and Barcelona

“No one can replace him”—the Al-Nassr coach explained Ronaldo's enduring importance to the team.

The Portuguese boss Jorge Jesus said his side faced a tough test against a well-organized Al-Fayha, featuring players with experience from Portugal's top league.

He added that Al-Nassr deserved the victory despite some controversial refereeing decisions that sparked debate.

Meanwhile, Pedro Emanuel, Al-Fayha's coach, spoke in a heated tone, insisting his team should have won and blaming external factors, including refereeing and VAR, for shaping the result.

Nail-Biting Win

Al-Nassr edged Al-Fayha 2-1 on Saturday in the seventh round of the Saudi Pro League, in a match that was highly competitive until the final seconds of stoppage time.

With this win, Al-Nassr moved to 21 points, atop the table with seven straight wins, while Al-Fayha sat on 8 points in tenth place.

We Are Adventurers

Jesus spoke after the match about the victory coming through a tough test, noting Al-Fayha’s strength and organization.

He added that the team plays boldly with a clear game plan and that he knows several players well from the Portuguese league who can influence matches.

He supported the correctness of Ronaldo’s late penalty and joked that Pedro Emanuel might have missed the replay when he claimed it was wrong.

Speaking about the disallowed Kingsley Coman goal, Jesus quipped that it was ruled offside on a controversial basis, a decision he called disappointing.

He addressed injuries to Saeed Al-Nasser and Ayman Yahya, forcing tactical adjustments on the left flank, while embracing an attacking approach despite higher defensive risks.

He concluded: We are adventurers, and that is why the teams I coach win. We must push forward even if it creates defensive problems.

Asked if he felt nervous during the game, he smiled: I am always nervous (laughs).

On Ronaldo, he said: Ronaldo is a great player who knows his body and when to rest. I considered resting him for the Asian Cup, but in some matches you cannot because he is Ronaldo. Kamara cannot replace him; sometimes we accept a lower level but his presence remains crucial.

He also defended the high defensive line, noting that top clubs adopt this approach and adding: Who concedes the fewest in the league? It’s Al-Nassr. Anyone coaching Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Barcelona, or Real Madrid must be adventurous.

Pedro: Al-Nassr Do Not Need Help

On the other side, Pedro Emanuel criticized his team and insisted Al-Fayha played a strong game and deserved the win.

In the post-match press conference he said: We came to win today, we scored, and we could have won the match, but some decisions were out of our control.

He added bluntly: Al-Nassr does not need these external factors. The same VAR that summoned the referee today did this against us in the past!

I am proud of my team and what the players delivered. We faced a top-side with the best attack, and everyone saw what we can offer on the pitch. We deserve respect from all teams, and I did not feel we were respected today.

He noted the penalty decision seemed expected after the referee reviewed VAR, saying: When the ref went to see VAR, I knew it would take 3–4 minutes and that the decision would go against us.

Intriguing Details From the Pitch

The win extended Al-Nassr’s unbeaten run to seven, turning a first-half deficit into a late triumph after a counter from the opponents’ Spanish attacker Jason yielded a powerful strike.

Ronaldo leveled in the 37th minute with a precise finish after a pass from Kingsley Coman.

Coman had earlier seen a goal ruled out for offside following a VAR check.

In stoppage time, Ronaldo converted a penalty to seal the victory at 90+12, lifting his team three points clear at the summit.

By the end, Al-Nassr stood on 21 points, three ahead of second-placed Al-Taawoun, while Al-Fayha remained on 8 points despite a strong showing.