‘Be careful’: Ange’s blow-up with relentless journo as Ronaldo misfires again
Ange Postecoglou traded verbal blows with journalists after Al-Nassr’s disastrous 4-0 loss to Al-Ain on Wednesday (AEST).
Postecoglou’s big-money strike trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and João Félix were held in check by their United Arab Emirates hosts in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr. Getty Images
At the other end, Moroccan brothers Houssine and Soufiane Rahimi scored three goals between them before Soufiane laid on the assist for Georgios Giakoumakis’ fourth.
Reporters peppered Postecoglou with questions about his selections afterwards and the Australian manager quickly lost patience.
Al-Ain is in the midst of a punishing heatwave with temperatures regularly hitting mid-40 degrees Celsius.
“You can’t have a first XI when you play nine games in the hottest part of the year. Have a look at how many (players) Al-Ain have played in the same time,” Postecoglou snapped back.
“So, you don’t like my answer, you keep asking the same question. The players are tired, I can see that. They’re giving everything. The responsibility – the result is me. Maybe I’m a bad coach, maybe you’re right, and I’m a bad coach, that’s the answer.
“But in terms of the players, they’re giving everything, but they’re tired. I think that’s logical... you have a great idea about the team and the players but unfortunately, you’re not the coach, I am. So you have to put up with me.”
Postecoglou is in his first season at the lucrative helm of the Saudi Arabia heavyweights after Premier League jobs with Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.
There are five Saudi teams in the Champions League, and they have spent a combined $2.81 billion on foreign players since 2023.
One reporter claimed there was no character in Postecoglou’s squad and then questioned their pre-season camp in Portugal.
The 61-year-old laughed and put his head in his hands.
“Were you there?” Postecoglou asked, with the journalist then replying in the affirmative.
Ange Postecoglou. X
“And what happened? No, no, but you need to explain because you say we didn’t prepare well, but you were there,” the ex-Socceroos coach continued.
“You’re not saying the truth. Be honest. It’s my responsibility. Maybe I haven’t done my job well, but please don’t talk about preparation because in Portugal, how many of these players were in Portugal?”
The same journo then said the 41-year-old Ronaldo was not “useful” for the club.
“Cristiano’s scored three goals already. He had a limited preparation,” Postecoglou fired back.
“This is not about the players. They are top players and they have great character.
“The responsibility is mine. It’s me, but you shouldn’t say that about somebody who is still setting an example for everyone. And you should be careful when you say things like that about people who have built a career on making all the sacrifices to keep playing.
“You can criticise me, no problem. That’s OK, but you need to be careful. Did he not score in three games? Did he not have chances today?”
The reporter fired questions at Ange Postecoglou. X
The reporter replied that in “the last three matches, he did nothing.”
“He did nothing? Well, you’re watching a different game to me,” Postecoglou said as the press conference wrapped up.
Meanwhile, Australia’s representative in the competition - the Newcastle Jets - were pumped 7-1 by Japan’s Kashima Antlers.
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