The “crisis” of victory is the result of long accumulations

The Al-Nasr team returned to find itself again in the heart of the storm, after its heavy loss to Al-Sharjah, 4-2, in the match that brought them together at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, in the 12th round of the Professional League, in a result that was not just a loss of three points, but rather clearly revealed the extent of the crisis that the team is experiencing on the defensive and mental levels, and brought back to the forefront new old questions about the team’s identity and its ability to compete.

The loss to Sharjah was not fleeting in the context of the season, but rather came to confirm that the strong start achieved by Al-Nassr in the first rounds was only a temporary situation, which quickly faded in the face of a complex technical reality, which was reflected in the collapse of the defensive system, the lack of consistency in the level, and the repetition of individual and collective mistakes at crucial times.

The language of numbers clearly reveals the extent of the decline. In the first six matches of the season, Al-Nasr conceded only four goals, which gave the impression that the team had regained its defensive solidity. However, the picture changed radically in the following six rounds, as the team conceded 12 goals, bringing the total number of goals received to 16 goals after 12 rounds, in a clear indication of the collapse of the defensive system.

After 12 matches had passed, Al-Nasr had scored only 18 points, meaning that it had lost a full 18 points in the first round so far. This is a tally that does not match the ambitions of the team or its fans. The Sharjah match was the clearest example of the extent of the defect, after Al-Nasr conceded three goals within just eight minutes in the second half, turning the result from Nasraoui’s 2-1 lead to a harsh 4-2 loss, in a scenario that reflects mental distraction, lack of concentration, and poor defensive positioning.

Al-Nasr’s suffering did not stop at the league’s borders. Rather, the scene became more complicated with its early exit from the President’s Cup and the Professional League Cup, making the league the only remaining space, at a time when public pressure was increasing and confidence in the team’s ability to correct the course was declining.

Nassar athletes and analysts agreed, in statements to Emirates Al-Youm, that the current crisis is not related to a single match or a passing result, but rather is the result of long accumulations, for which the technical staff, players and management bear responsibility together.

Shared responsibility

For his part, the captain of the Al-Nasr team and the former national team, Abdul Rahman Muhammad, confirmed that the responsibility is shared, explaining that the technical staff is required to correct the technical and tactical aspects, especially with regard to positioning and defensive organization, which is a direct responsibility that falls on the coach. On the other hand, the players bear a clear responsibility related to mental distraction, poor passing, and not appearing at the required level.

He pointed out that what happened in the Sharjah match was remarkable, especially the strange mistakes in the defense line, the player Luca, and the poor positioning of some players, stressing that conceding three goals in a few minutes cannot only be justified technically, but rather reflects a loss of concentration on the field.

For his part, the former Al-Nasr club player and former national team manager, Hassan Suhail, attributed the matter to “that the situation the team is currently going through is a natural result of accumulations that have extended for years, whether at the level of players or the technical and administrative staff.”

He explained: “The quality of the players present does not rise to the level of a professional player capable of making a difference. Their levels are ordinary, in light of a technical staff with modest capabilities, unable to build a team that has a clear identity and a stable technical personality.” He added: “The confusion in the formations of the football company, the change in administrative bodies, and the poor choices of coaches and players during the past years were clear indicators of reaching this stage.”

He also warned that the continuation of the situation without radical solutions might push the team to decline further in the rankings, which is not befitting the history of the “Dean of Emirati Football.”

Quality of players

In turn, former Al-Nasr team manager and technical analyst, Khaled Obaid, stressed that the essence of the crisis lies in the quality of the players, stressing that their current capabilities do not qualify the team to compete for championships.

He said: “This group may provide a match or two at an acceptable level, but it lacks continuity, which is what Al-Nasr has been suffering from for a long time. The team lacks elements capable of withstanding pressure and competing over the course of an entire season,” considering that what the players offer is the best they have, and he said: “Their goodness has increased,” as he put it, with respect for their capabilities. He excluded the Iranian player Mehdi Qaidi, whom he considered to be the best technically in the team, despite his recent return from injury, noting the strangeness of some of them. Technical decisions, especially replacing him in the last minutes, despite him being the most prominent offensive element, even in the Sharjah match.

The coach admits the difficulties

For his part, Al-Nasr coach, Serbian Slavisa Jokanovic, acknowledged the difficulty of the stage, stressing that the team is suffering from a decline in energy, speed and quality, especially in the second half of the matches.

He explained after the Sharjah match that the team was not able to control the pattern of play or impose its style, and that the problem is not related to technical philosophy, as much as it is related to mental readiness and confidence.

Jokanovic stressed that the solution lies in continuing to work, correcting details, and raising the level of focus and energy, considering that the loss of sharpness in tackles and challenges makes the team easily lose its positions on the field.

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