When a Legend Falls into a Nightmare: Jesus’s Al-Nassr Comeback Catastrophe
29 October 2025
The Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus carries on his streak of misfortune in decisive matches as his Saudi adventure at Al-Nassr presses on.
The veteran mentor, formerly of Al-Hilal, who had carved out notable success in numbers, results, and trophies, was expected to deliver more when he took the reins at Al-Nassr.
That expectation stems from Jesus’s long experience, his appetite for challenges, and a squad blessed with big stars headlined by Cristiano Ronaldo, complemented by high-profile signings meant to reinforce every position.
The club welcomed back Nawaf Al-Aqaydi, reemerging in fine form after shining with Al-Fateh on loan last season, while Portuguese Joao Felix began his Al-Nassr chapter with eye-catching early moments. Frenchman Kingsley Coman arrived from Bayern Munich, and defender Inigo Martinez joined the mix, boosting the backline and midfield alike.
All these arrivals were meant to drive trophies, because titles have mythicly haunted Al-Nassr’s coaching chains—from Rudy Garcia’s departure to Portuguese Luis Castro, the last to win a trophy with the club in summer 2023, through the Stefano Pioli era, to Jesus himself who has just seen a second title slip away in the King’s Cup to Al-Ittihad (2-1).
The Knockout Curse
Despite Jesus’s breadth of experience and prior knockout prowess with Al-Hilal, a mysterious curse seems to have him in its grip, erasing the spark he once brought to crucial matches.
Since his last trophy, crowned at the Saudi Super Cup at the start of the previous season against his former team, he has not managed a decisive knockout win in his journey so far.
His stint with Al-Hilal last season was numerically and trophy-wise underwhelming, notably faltering in a key cup clash against Al-Ittihad, losing on penalties in the King Cup quarterfinals, a setback that weighed on the club’s ambitions.
The twice-up front led to a dramatic comeback by the Ittihad side spearheaded by Benzema, forcing an early exit for the defending champions from the competition they had once held. The path to the AFC Champions League knockout rounds also betrayed him, as Al-Hilal fell to Al-Ahli in the semifinal, a 3-1 defeat that extended the pattern of disappointment in high-stakes ties.
A Rocky Start for a Legend
With Al-Nassr, expectations ran high for a different face and a new chapter, with fans hoping a title would shatter the curse even if it wasn’t the league or Asia’s crown, for Jesus’s ambitions have long outgrown such modest targets.
Yet reality struck when he could not preserve a late lead against Al-Ahli in the Saudi Super Cup final that opened the season, giving Al-Riyadh a chance to seize the trophy.
The “curse” did not stop at the crown jewel; it carried into the King’s Cup as well, where Al-Nassr’s ambitions clashed with a Sergio Conceicao-led unit, denying Ronaldo and Co. a trophy in a straight knockout duel.
To lose two cups in 13 games rings alarm bells for a club with the DNA of chasing big titles; if Jesus had already tasted such losses with the leaders of the kingdom, the numbers here tell a harsher tale, punctuated by flashes of good moments in between.
Stubbornness as a Strategy
Jesus does not strike as the type to openly admit mistakes or diagnose a flaw needing treatment; he tends to view every setback as a possible rebound rather than a catastrophe, insisting the issue rarely lies in the system or tactics, but rather how the matches unfold.
Critics—analysts and experts alike—have sharpened their scrutiny over his approach against teams like Al-Ittihad, especially with an aggressive defensive line that leaves gaps for counterattacks to exploit.
In knockout settings, over-commitment can backfire, yet the Portuguese coach’s pride may have nudged him into attempting to settle matters in the opening half, against a wounded opponent fresh from a classic clash with Al-Hilal, alongside a recent loss to Al-Nassr a month earlier.
Conceicao’s more pragmatic, realistic, and efficient approach, tailored for knockout terrain, has yielded results—he corralled victory in the most efficient way possible, a contrast often discussed in the pundit circles.
Jorge Jesus is known for a strong figure on the touchline and a contagious energy that can lift players, but critics flag his stubbornness and insistence on his tactical ideas even when flexibility would help. Still, his impact and experience remain undeniable within Portuguese coaching circles and beyond, even as recent outcomes test that legacy.
