Al-Nassr boss claims his team are now treating Cristiano Ronaldo differently

13 February 2023 , 07:00

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Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia believes his team are now learning how to get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo (Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia believes that the rest of the team are now starting to understand how to get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of the striker's impressive four-goal haul.

Ronaldo, 38, had endured an underwhelming start to his career in the Middle East after joining the Saudi Pro League outfit back in December, but he rolled back the years and notched all four of Al-Nassr's goals in their emphatic win over Al-Wehda last week.

His impact in last Thursday night's game came just a fortnight after Garcia had urged the rest of his side to "play normally" in the midst of their new star forward, who had scored just once in his first three competitive appearances for the club before his goal glut.

“It is very important that the players play normally and don't always try to give Cristiano the ball,” Garcia said after Al-Nassr's disappointing defeat against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup last month. “I told them they had to make the right decisions on the pitch.

“Obviously, when Cristiano or Anderson Talisca are alone and ask for the ball, we have to give them the ball. These two players are capable of making a difference. We have to work on it, have one of them in the area and maybe the other will play outside the area.”

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But Garcia is now adamant that Ronaldo and the rest of the Al-Nassr squad are working towards a happy medium after his new star man record a stunning four-goal haul.

Speaking after Thursday's win, the Al-Nassr chief said: "Ronaldo has reached a great stage of homogeneity and harmony with his teammates. Over time, his team-mates realised what he wanted and when he will score. I think it was a good night for Cristiano Ronaldo because he scored four goals."

Join the debate! What have you made of Ronaldo's start to life at Al-Nassr? Let us know here.

Ronaldo scored four times in Al-Nassr's win over Al-Wehda

Ronaldo's impressive display against Al-Wehda means the Portuguese superstar has now surpassed his latest milestone after clocking up a remarkable 503 league goals.

Al-Nassr's thumping win over Al-Wehda means Garcia's side currently top the Saudi Pro League ahead of Al-Ittihad on goal difference. Al-Nassr are aiming to win their first domestic title since 2019 with Ronaldo in tow after the former Manchester United favourite was lured to the Middle East with a lucrative contract worth in the region of £172million-a-year.

Ronaldo raised eyebrows when he opted to leave Europe but was adamant that he had achieved everything he wanted after trophy-laden stints with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Garcia's side will continue their title tilt later this week when they lock horns with Al-Taawoun on Friday evening. Al-Taawoun are currently fifth in the Saudi Pro League standings.

Dan Marsh