When the Derby Deniers: Jorge Jesus Breaks Down Al Nassr’s Slump

Overview of Jorge Jesus's Remarks

The Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, head coach of Al Nassr, addressed the club's recent slide in results. In a Friday press conference ahead of the derby with Al Shabab, he acknowledged the team’s decline but stressed accountability rather than excuses, noting injuries and key absences that have contributed to the current run.

He said at the press conference that Al Nassr does not possess the political clout of Al Hilal, but he rejected that as a justification for negative results and insisted that responsibility rests with him and the squad. He emphasized that he is the first to own the outcomes and must seek solutions, pointing to mistakes both individual and disciplinary, along with injuries to Mane, Semakan, and Ayman Yahya as factors that dragged the team into the crisis.

"Facing Al Shabab is a derby," he noted, adding that such matches are typically closely contested and that the current trio of poor results—especially the encounter with Al Hilal—needs urgent addressing to move past the storm.

Jesus underlined that he is not accustomed to losing three games in a row, yet he insisted the focus must be on finding solutions, not making excuses. He acknowledged mental hurdles and a psychological dip that have pushed the team into this difficult period.

He stressed that there are still many rounds left in the league, with Al Hilal leading and a tight points gap behind, and that Al Nassr will fight for the first place while prioritizing the mental state of the squad and the support of the fans.

He also commented on the club’s communication strategy, saying there are two battles for most teams: on the pitch and on social media. Al Nassr is not known for engaging in media theatrics, but external noise can destabilize a team; the club must find internal solutions to counteract this trend.

In closing, he reflected on a period of positivity during a ten-match stretch, followed by mistakes. He reiterated the importance of maintaining the supporters' trust while acknowledging they trail the leaders by seven points, but expressed belief in the team’s chances.

Regarding the futures of Abdulrahman Gharib and Raghd Al Najjar, he said their contracts run until May, Najjar is injured for four weeks, Gharib is with the squad and fit to contribute, and there has been no discussion about reducing foreign players. On winter reinforcements, he said he wants to sign players but that resources and circumstances are not simple, and that strengthening the squad requires the right material to sign new talent.

Punchline 1: If accuracy were a trophy, Al Nassr would be world champions by now—it's just that the trophy keeps slipping through the defense’s hands.

Punchline 2: Coaching a team is a bit like sniping: you line up the shot, you wait for the perfect moment, and then the crowd reminds you to keep it entertaining anyway.