Cristiano Ronaldo, leading the Saudi Pro League (SPL) scoring list with 17 goals this season, continues to make headlines both on and off the field. His latest exploits come amid a challenging period for Al Nassr as they balance their commitments between the SPL and the AFC Champions League.
Al Nassr's recent match against Al Wehda was delayed due to unforeseen traffic disruptions, causing the team's bus journey to extend to a grueling three hours. This delay led Ronaldo to apologize on behalf of the team for the late start.
"I want to apologise on behalf of Al Nassr for starting the game late. This is should not happen again. Sorry," – Ronaldo
Despite the delay, Ronaldo's leadership helped guide Al Nassr to a 2-0 victory over Al Wehda. The team managed to bounce back after a loss to Al Ettifaq, with Ronaldo scoring and winning a penalty in the match. In a display of teamwork, he allowed his teammate Sadio Mané to take the penalty.
Ronaldo praised his teammates for their resilience in overcoming early difficulties during the match.
"We started not very good, but in second half we were a little bet better. We fixed our issues and we scored two goals so we are happy." – Ronaldo
The victory keeps Al Nassr in third place in the SPL standings with 47 points, trailing leaders Al Ittihad by eight points and second-placed Al Hilal by four. However, Al Ittihad maintains a game in hand.
Ronaldo remains optimistic about Al Nassr's prospects, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum.
"[The comeback] should be like that. This is Al Nassr we have to react… We have to continue to win and let's see what's going to happen." – Ronaldo
In addition to domestic competition, Al Nassr's focus is also on the AFC Champions League, where they face Esteghlal Tehran in the last 16 on Monday. Ronaldo stressed the importance of rebuilding confidence as they progress through their fixtures.
"Game-by-game, we have to build again the confidence… We have to do it again we have to win, win, win and let's see what's going to happen." – Ronaldo
Ronaldo's contributions extend beyond his goal-scoring prowess, with his influence evident in the team's performance and morale. His ability to lead by example continues to inspire his colleagues as they navigate the dual challenges of league play and international competition.
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