Jorge Jesus is the head coach of Al Nassr
Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus has pointed to the absence of Sadio Mané as a major factor behind the club’s sudden dip in form, following a dramatic change in fortunes in the 2025/26 Saudi Pro League season.
The Riyadh-based side began the campaign dominantly, going on a 10-game winning streak that firmly placed them on course for the league title. However, that momentum has completely disappeared. Al Nassr are now four matches without a win, picking up just one point in that run, and have fallen seven points behind leaders Al Hilal.
Their last victory came in December 2025, when a Cristiano Ronaldo brace powered them to a 3–0 win over Al Okhdood. Since then, Al Nassr have suffered three consecutive defeats, a rare low point for Jesus, who had not lost three straight games in 16 years of coaching.
Speaking after the latest setback, the Portuguese coach admitted that Mané’s departure for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been keenly felt in the squad.
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“We started the season well and were performing strongly, but when Sadio Mané left for the AFCON and some of our players made individual mistakes, we weren’t able to manage the situation,” Jesus said.
Mané joined Senegal in late December 2025 to compete in the tournament, leaving a significant gap in Al Nassr’s attacking structure and leadership. With the title race tightening and pressure mounting, Jesus will now be hoping that the return of his star winger can help restore the club’s early-season form and reignite their championship push.
FKA/MA
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