Jorge Jesus in shock after lost final: “Now it’s no use crying…” – Al Nassr stunned by Gamba Osaka in Asian Champions final
Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus experienced a bitter moment last Saturday as he watched his Al Nassr lose 1-0 to Gamba Osaka in a Champions League final that left everyone in shock. The only goal of the match, scored by Turkish player Deniz Hummet in the 30th minute, confirmed the surprising victory of the Japanese team, which claimed the title against an Al Nassr side that could not respond to the quality of their opponents.
In the press conference after the game, Jesus did not hide his surprise at Gamba Osaka’s performance, acknowledging the opponent’s superiority at a decisive moment. “This is a final that only one team can win. We did not start well in the first 30 minutes, but after that, we controlled the game. The opponent scored with the only shot they took and surprised us with their excellent level,” declared the Portuguese coach, also highlighting the enormous physical fatigue that affected his team.
Jesus’s risky strategy, which saw players like Coman and Ângelo being fielded despite a physically exhausting scenario, was explained candidly: “We know that next Thursday is the most important date for us. The team is physically exhausted, and we took a risk by using Coman and Ângelo.” Despite the criticism that arose regarding the coach’s choices, Jesus stood firm and defended his approach based on the limitations of the squad: “The spectator always has an opinion, but they do not know the reality of the team. Al Nassr has four midfielders, and the only one available was Ali Al Hassan, so we had to turn to Saad Al Nasser. We did not lose because of his usage, but rather because we did not score at the beginning of the game.”
With the focus now turned to the next decisive battle in the Saudi championship, Jorge Jesus made it clear what the team’s absolute priority is: “The competition we have been preparing for since the beginning of the season is the league title.” The coach also highlighted that this was the first match of the season in which Al Nassr failed to score, taking the opportunity to praise the opponent: “I congratulate the Japanese team.”
In addition to the tactical and physical difficulties, Al Nassr’s squad has been heavily affected by health issues. Jorge Jesus revealed that the team suffered a flu outbreak following a trip to Dubai, which, combined with the fatigue from recent matches against Al Shabab, Al Ahli, and Al Hilal, further complicated preparations for this final. “Al Nassr suffered two blows: the first was the loss of this title and the second is yet to come. My focus now is on the medical department,” the coach confessed.
Despite the setback, Jorge Jesus remains calm and determined for the challenges ahead. “Now it’s pointless to cry or lament. We are missing about 50% of the group and we need to prepare them. Our goal is to recover the team physically because mentally we are ready. There are five days left until a game that represents an important title for us, and the players are motivated,” he concluded, sending a clear message: the fight for the national title is far from over, and Al Nassr will do everything to turn the page and achieve local glory.
This setback in the Asian final may just be a temporary blow, but Jorge Jesus and Al Nassr promise to return even stronger for the battle that truly matters – the conquest of the Saudi championship, where the Portuguese team holds all the cards to succeed. The clock is ticking and the pressure is mounting: who can say if this will be the last chapter of Jesus at the helm of Al Nassr? The answer will come next Thursday, in a match that promises to be decisive.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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