Did They Actually Look... Freer?
Now, no one's daft enough to say Al Nassr are a better team without Ronaldo. The guy's a goal machine, period. But last night, without him as the sun everything else orbits, the attack just felt... different. More unpredictable, maybe? Mané wasn't just stuck out wide; he was in the thick of it, looking like the superstar he is. The other lads – Durán, Yahya, the rest – they seemed to share the load, buzzing around, and finding gaps.
Was it just because Al-Akhdoud (who also went down to 10 men, mind you) aren't exactly world-beaters? Probably a big slice of it. But it does make you wonder. Did we just see a glimpse of what Al Nassr could be if they weren't so laser-focused on feeding Ronaldo? It’s a thought, especially for Stefano Pioli scratching his chin in the dugout.
The Ronaldo Question and the Empty Trophy Cabinet
This massive win is a weird one, coming when the Saudi Pro League trophy is, let's face it, heading elsewhere. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are just too far ahead. So, naturally, all eyes are on Ronaldo and his contract. His current deal is up at the end of this 2024-2025 season, and the rumour mill is working overtime. Some say talks are stalled. Others whisper he's laid down the law: new players, maybe even a new coach and backroom staff, if he's going to stick around.
You can't blame him for being a bit miffed. He came to win, and apart from the Arab Club Champions Cup, the big domestic and Asian titles haven't landed. So, Al Nassr are at a fork in the road. Do they basically hand Ronaldo the keys and rebuild everything to his spec, hoping it finally clicks? Or do they start thinking about life after Ronaldo, or at least a life where he's part of a more balanced machine, not the entire engine?
Last night’s goal-fest, weirdly, gives ammo to both arguments. "See, we've got talent everywhere!" or "Imagine this lot WITH Ronaldo firing on all cylinders!"
So, What's the Play, Al Nassr?
With the league gone, they'll want to nail down that AFC Champions League spot and have a proper crack at any cups still going. But the suits upstairs have bigger fish to fry. This club isn't just about a season or two; it's a massive piece of Saudi Arabia's global football ambition. That means building something that lasts, something that can genuinely compete for the big stuff year in, year out.
That 9-0 thrashing was fun, a proper demolition job. But was it a sign of a new tactical dawn, a team ready to evolve beyond just "pass it to Cristiano"? Or just a great day at the office against a weaker side, soon to be forgotten when the big contract talks really get going?
Al Nassr have some serious thinking to do. This isn't just about one superstar, however bright he shines. It's about building a legacy. And last night, with Ronaldo on the sidelines, they might have accidentally stumbled upon a few clues about how to do just that. Or maybe not. That's the million-dollar, or rather, multi-million riyal question, isn't it?
