The top match of the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League, between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad at Al-Awwal Park Stadium, witnessed a remarkable event off the pitch that was no less intriguing than what transpired on it. In a move that surprised the media and fans, Al-Nassr players collectively refused to give any press or television interviews after the match, despite securing a valuable and well-deserved victory in the Saudi Clasico.

A reporter from "Emanat Thamania" revealed the behind-the-scenes events leading up to this media blackout, confirming that Al-Nassr's management issued strict instructions to the players in the hours before kickoff, prohibiting them from speaking to the media after the match. The source explained that this decision was a clear message of solidarity and an explicit protest from the Al-Nassr organization against the recent events and pressures faced by the team's captain, the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, reflecting the strong unity within the "Global" team's dressing room.

On the technical level, Al-Nasr succeeded in winning the Clasico match in its favor with a clean sheet, as the Senegalese star Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a penalty kick that he executed brilliantly, before the young Brazilian player Angelo Gabriel strengthened his team’s superiority by scoring the second goal, confirming Al-Nasr’s superiority in this major public match.

This victory is doubly significant as it comes within the context of the fierce historical rivalry between the two clubs. Matches between Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad are a prestigious showcase for Saudi football and attract widespread regional and international attention. Furthermore, the win strengthens Al-Nassr's position in the league standings and provides the team with a tremendous morale boost as they continue their pursuit of titles, especially since this is their second consecutive victory in the absence of their captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, following their previous win against Al-Riyadh in the last round.

This cohesive performance demonstrates the ability of the coaching staff and players to cope with significant absences and maintain the team's upward trajectory, while fans eagerly await Ronaldo's return to action and the overcoming of the current crisis that has cast a shadow over the media coverage of the match.

French coach Christopher Galtier, manager of Neom FC, directly and frankly addressed the anger displayed by the team's captain, veteran star Salman Al-Faraj, after he was substituted and left the field during the match against Al-Riyadh. This match was part of the 21st round of the Roshan Professional League, held at King Khalid Sports City Stadium, and ended in a valuable victory for Neom.

In the post-match press conference, Galtier downplayed the incident, placing it within the context of normal football emotions. The French coach said, "What Salman Al-Faraj did is perfectly normal in football; great players always want to be on the pitch. My decision was purely tactical; I wanted to bring on more dynamic and energetic players in midfield to ensure control during the crucial final minutes.".

The former Paris Saint-Germain coach explained the tactical reasons for the substitution: "The decision was based on the players' performances during the match. Salman Al-Faraj and his teammate Amadou weren't posing the necessary attacking threat to Al-Riyadh's goal, which necessitated a change to revitalize the team." Galtier indicated that he had warned Al-Faraj and Amadou about their lack of attacking threat during the game, emphasizing that he would discuss the matter calmly with the players during upcoming training sessions to ensure team stability.

This incident comes at a time when NEOM FC is striving to establish itself as a major force in the Saudi League, benefiting from the vast experience of Salman Al-Faraj, the former captain of the Saudi national team and Al-Hilal. Al-Faraj is known for his intense passion and dedication to the team, which explains his angry reaction—a characteristic often found in players with a strong desire to win.

From a technical standpoint, Galtier's approach reflects the tactical discipline of the French coach, who prioritizes the team's collective interest above any individual considerations—an approach that has helped the team achieve positive results this season. The course of the match proved the coach's vision correct, as Neom secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from international star Alexandre Lacazette. This win extends the team's winning streak and strengthens their position in the Roshan League standings, confirming that Neom's sporting project is on the right track towards competing for titles.

Uruguayan Daniel Carreño, the head coach of Al-Riyadh's first football team, made important statements after his team's match against Neom, which resulted in Al-Riyadh's loss in the match that brought them together as part of the twenty-first round of the Saudi Professional League, at King Khalid Sports City Stadium.

Technical analysis of the first half

In the post-match press conference, Carreño provided a detailed technical analysis of the game, noting that the first half was characterized by competitiveness and relative parity between the two sides. The experienced coach explained that Neom successfully imposed their style of play by dominating possession and controlling the midfield, which gave them a numerical advantage at certain points in the match.

Carreño added: "Despite Neom's dominance, we succeeded in implementing a good defensive organization, and our strategy relied on quick counter-attacks to exploit the spaces behind the opponent's defenses, but unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of the opportunities that were available to us in the required manner to translate them into goals.".

The turning point and the goalkeepers' brilliance

The Riyadh coach addressed the second half, which saw Neom take the lead with the winning goal, emphasizing that his team tried to equalize. He said, "In the second half, the opponent managed to score, and despite our continuous efforts and creating several clear scoring opportunities, the brilliance of Neom's goalkeeper prevented us from doing so, as he saved more than one dangerous shot that could have changed the course of the match.".

Competition context of the Roshan League

This match comes at a time of intense competition in the second half of the Saudi Professional League season, with mid-table teams like Al-Riyadh striving to secure their positions and avoid relegation. This loss is a setback for the "Central School" (Al-Riyadh's nickname), who are trying to maintain consistent performances under the guidance of coach Carreno, known for his extensive experience in Saudi football and his tactical discipline.

Daniel Carreño is known for his style, which blends defensive discipline with a high fighting spirit ("grinta"), a quality clearly demonstrated by Al-Riyadh's defense's resilience throughout much of the match against Neom's relentless pressure. The crucial rounds of the league serve as a true test of a coach's ability to handle pressure and quickly turn things around.

Cariño concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the team will analyze the mistakes made during the Neom match and seek to continue developing and improving in the upcoming rounds, stressing that the league is still long and that the team has the potential to return to winning ways.