Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed his team’s readiness for the anticipated clash against Japan’s Gamba Osaka, stressing that the squad is fully aware of the importance and difficulty of the match as they aim to win the AFC Champions League 2 title for the first time in the club’s history.
Speaking at the press conference, Jesus said: “It’s clear that this is a big match, and that’s evident from the attendance at the press conference. We are ready for the challenges and difficulties. We will face a tough team with good fitness levels, but we strongly believe in our capabilities and our chances of winning.”
He added: “I’ve spoken a lot about the importance of this match. Neither I nor any Saudi team has won this trophy before. We hope to take advantage of this opportunity, as we don’t know if we will have another chance to play in such a match again, so we aim to win the title.”
Jesus explained that the team has worked hard over the past months to reach this stage, saying: “Al-Nassr has worked hard for 11 months. We are ready for both opportunities — tomorrow’s match and the following league game. But other teams also have strong and hardworking players. Words mean nothing; everything will be decided on the pitch.”
He also addressed squad availability: “Sami Al-Najei has recently returned, and it’s difficult for him to be involved, but Haider Abdulkarim will be available with the group tomorrow.”
The Portuguese coach emphasized the strength of Al-Nassr’s squad, noting that it includes players accustomed to competing for titles: “Al-Nassr has top-level players who have won many European trophies. We always play to win. Last season, the team had more positive results than negative ones. We worked hard, and the reward is that we are now competing for two titles.”
Regarding the mental impact of the dramatic draw against Al-Hilal, Jesus said: “That is now in the past. We spoke with Bento, who delivered an excellent performance against Al-Hilal. I focus only on the positives and the upcoming two matches. Defenders, like attackers, can make mistakes — that’s part of football.”
