Jesus justifies keeping Ronaldo on the field: "He cannot be replaced"
November 2, 2025188 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes

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The Portuguese Jorge Jesus, coach of Al Nassr, defended his ongoing decision not to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo during league matches, affirming that the team captain knows his body well and determines the moment he needs rest.
After the victory over Al-Fayha
Ronaldo scored the two winning goals against Al-Fayha with a score of 2-1 in the seventh round, allowing Al Nassr to maintain its lead in the league with a perfect score, which raised the question among journalists about the reason for not substituting the Portuguese star.
Why is Ronaldo not substituted?
Jesus said that Ronaldo is an exceptional player, noting that he is considering giving him rest in the AFC Champions League, especially since he has not participated in any match of the group stage so far. He added: "In some matches, we cannot rest him because he is Ronaldo... and Kamara cannot replace him."
Referee criticism
The Al Nassr coach also directed sharp criticisms at a refereeing decision during the match against Al-Fayha, after the video technology canceled Kingsley Coman's goal due to him being offside by "just the ear" compared to the last defender, describing the decision as "shameful."
Jesus's attacking philosophy
The coach clarified that the teams he coaches always rely on offensive adventure in search of scoring, explaining that this style may expose the team to problems at times, but it remains the first choice for achieving victory.
