Ange Postecoglou has warned that Al-Nassr must cope with an unusually demanding schedule after beginning their Roshn Saudi League campaign with a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh, with the club set to play three matches in six days this week.
The Australian manager said the congested run could force him to make significant changes to his starting line-up as he attempts to manage his players’ physical workload at the beginning of the season.
“سنلعب 3 مباريات خلال 6 ايام هذا الاسبوع” “We will play three matches in six days this week,” Postecoglou told reporters at his post-match news conference.
He said the immediate challenge was not simply to maintain Al-Nassr’s winning results, but to ensure the squad remained fit and available throughout a period in which the club’s Saudi rivals would not face the same schedule.
“Al-Nassr will be the only Saudi team playing three matches in six days this week,” Postecoglou said, highlighting the pressure placed on his coaching staff to balance performance, recovery and selection.
The manager also addressed the condition of captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was present and supported the team during the victory over Al-Fateh. However, Postecoglou indicated that recovery would be the priority before any decision was made over the forward’s involvement in the next match.
“Cristiano is here today, and he is always with us. The most important thing now is recovery, especially as we have only two days after this match. After that, we will decide whether the players take part based on their readiness,” he said.
Postecoglou praised the depth of his squad, pointing out that several important players were unavailable for the opening fixture. He was pleased with the contribution of those who started and those who came on during the match.
“As I said before the game, we have a strong squad. There were important players who did not play today, but what matters to me is that everyone who took part, whether they started or came on, produced an excellent performance,” he said.
The victory was also viewed by Postecoglou as a useful examination of Al-Nassr’s readiness. He acknowledged that opening matches can be particularly difficult, while the different dates on which players joined the pre-season camp had prevented the team from reaching full fitness.
“We are not at 100% fitness yet, but the players’ performance and commitment were absolutely excellent,” he added.
The Al-Nassr manager reserved particular praise for Sami Al-Najei, who had missed an entire season because of injuries. Postecoglou said the midfielder had impressed during pre-season but would need to be reintroduced carefully after such a lengthy absence.
“He performed really well during pre-season, and it is natural that he needs some time to play after missing a whole season,” Postecoglou said.
Al-Nassr’s emphatic opening win has therefore been followed by an immediate test of their squad depth and recovery planning. The club will now seek to preserve its positive start while managing the demanding schedule and assessing the availability of Ronaldo and the rest of its key players.
