Al Nassr’s Jorge Jesus Aims to Bridge Gap with Al Hilal Despite Economic Challenges

omidbasir- Al Nassr’s head coach, Jorge Jesus, has emphasized the necessity for his team to devise strategies to counterbalance their limited “economic power” in order to challenge the financially robust Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Following a 2-0 victory against Al-Fateh on Saturday, which also marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the field, Al Nassr continues to apply pressure on league leaders Al Hilal. Ronaldo had previously missed two league games, expressing discontent over the financial disparities experienced by Al Nassr, particularly in comparison to Al Hilal, who successfully signed his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Al Ittihad.

“I have previously been associated with Al Hilal,” Jorge Jesus remarked. “Having experienced the advantages that come with that, I can attest to their greater economic power. During my tenure there, I benefited as a coach. It is a natural situation; Al Nassr must compete for top positions with different resources. We must remain resilient.”

Having led Al Hilal to several titles, including the league title and the Saudi Kings Cup in 2024 during his second period with the club, Jorge Jesus joined Al Nassr last summer with ambitious goals. “I was brought on board to help narrow the gap in titles and points between Al Hilal and Al Nassr,” he stated. “And we are making progress in that direction. We possess confidence in Al Nassr’s structure, which is gradually improving its ability to harmonize the group.”

He added, “This encompasses not just the active players but also the supportive staff, a team that understands the challenges and is aware that they are competing against opponents with greater financial resources rather than athletic prowess.”

At 41 years old, Ronaldo has yet to secure a major trophy since joining Al Nassr in December 2022 after his departure from Manchester United. He has been the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League in the past two seasons and currently ranks as the second leading scorer this season, just two goals behind Ivan Toney of Al-Ahli.

Al Nassr sits second in the league standings, trailing Al Hilal by just one point. “We are in the championship race, just one point behind the leaders, which is an improvement for Al Nassr, as we have often finished 16 to 14 points behind in recent years,” he noted. “This season, we aim to avoid that scenario. We are confident in our ability to compete for the top positions until the end of the season.”