Immense vitriol has surrounded coach Luis Castro after Al Nassr lost 3-1 against Al Raed- a team that occupies the bottom half of the league table. Interestingly, Al Nassr had snapped their winning streak before the loss against Al Raed. They drew to Al Hazm in Cristiano Ronaldo‘s absence. Thereafter, they lost to Al Ain in the AFC Champions League. In a press conference after the Al Raed loss, coach Castro, however, fired back at his critics with a reality check on Al Nassr’s plight over the years. He also added the ex-coaches were ‘looking for excuses’.

With the loss versus Al Raed, the Knights of Najd’s prospects for the Saudi Pro League title look rather bleak. Meanwhile, they are also a loss away from exiting the AFC Champions League. Anyhow, the Portuguese coach thinks Al Nassr historically has not had many bright chances to win numerous silverware.

Luis Castro drags dirt on Al Nassr’s history after embarrassing loss

It took Al Nassr the services of coach Luis Castro and Cristiano Ronaldo to seize their first silverware (Arab Club Champions Cup) in two years. And Castro is immensely proud of this feat, as he believes he has surpassed his predecessors. “Since when did Al-Nasr not win a championship before achieving the Arab Championship? Don’t think that Al-Nasr wins a championship every year,” said Luis Castro. Then, the 62-year-old boss threw a jibe at Al Nassr’s previous coaches. “Those before me, what were they doing? They were looking for excuses,” the Portuguese tactician added.

Al Nassr failed to win any trophy in the 2020-21, and the 21-22 seasons just before Castro joined in the 22-23 season. Al Nassr had won the Saudi Super Cup in 2020. Besides, despite being a powerhouse in the Saudi League, Al Nassr has never won the AFC Champions League. Such facts from the club’s history prove Castro right. However, there is a huge chance that the coach’s words will come true this season as Ronaldo and Co. risk title contention in every competition they feature.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. are walking on eggshells

Cristiano Ronaldo’s team lost spectacularly against Al Raed at a time when each match’s outcome counts. This loss will further widen the gap between Al Nassr and the top-seeded Al Hilal. Now, whatever little title hopes Al Nassr has will depend on the outcome of Al Hilal’s matches. Simply, Al Hilal will have to snap their winning streak for Al Nassr to prosper.

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Al Nassr also plays Al Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final. Notably, Al Nassr has lost against Al Hilal two times this season. Therefore, it won’t be a walk in the park for Ronaldo and Castro to face Jorge Jesus’ side again. Meanwhile, Al Ain has secured the aggregate lead against Al Nassr in the AFC CL’s quarter-final. It would be immense pressure on a side battered by injuries to overcome that aggregate lead and run deep in the Asian Champions League. Hence there is a chance that Castro’s reality check on the past would become a prediction for Al Nassr’s run this season.

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