Why I substituted Ronaldo at half-time – Postecoglou

Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou revealed the reasoning behind his decision to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo at half-time during the team's dramatic comeback win over Al-Ettifaq. Ronaldo, who was making his first start since the World Cup at 41, was substituted with Al-Nassr trailing 2-0 and playing with 10 men. Ronaldo appeared frustrated as he left the pitch, gesturing towards the bench.

Despite this, Postecoglou's substitution proved to be a wise move as Al-Nassr staged a remarkable second-half comeback. Sadio Mane and Abdulelah Al Amri scored within three minutes to level the match, and Mane scored again in added time to secure a 3-2 victory for the defending Saudi Pro League champions. Postecoglou explained that he believed the players brought on at half-time could make a greater impact under the circumstances.

He praised every substitute for contributing positively to the comeback, stating, "I'm proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution." Postecoglou also acknowledged Ronaldo's exceptional performance in the first half, despite choosing to substitute him. The victory kept Al-Nassr's perfect start to the season intact, with three wins from three matches and placing them at the top of the Saudi Pro League table.

Postecoglou, who took charge of Al-Nassr last month, previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest. For Ronaldo, the match represented a possible final season of his playing career, as he is likely to retire after the campaign to spend more time with his family.