Ange Postecoglou engaged in a heated exchange with journalists following Al-Nassr's significant 4-0 defeat to Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite. The Australian manager defended his team selection and players, including star trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and João Félix, against criticism regarding their performance and character. Postecoglou attributed the team's struggles to player fatigue and the intense heatwave in the United Arab Emirates, where Al-Ain's Houssine and Soufiane Rahimi, along with Georgios Giakoumakis, scored the goals. He took full responsibility for the result but strongly rebuked reporters for questioning his players' commitment and Cristiano Ronaldo's usefulness, emphasizing the challenges of playing numerous games in harsh conditions. Postecoglou, in his first season with the Saudi club after previous Premier League roles with Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest, asserted his authority as coach.