Jorge Jesus explains Sadio Mané omission as Al Nassr's winning run ends

Who, what, when and why it matters

Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus explained on Monday why Sadio Mané was omitted from the squad for Sunday’s Saudi Pro League defeat to Al Qadsiah: Mané suffered a last‑minute issue described by the coach as localized pain and had also been affected by flu symptoms after a team trip, so Jesus opted not to include him. The decision mattered because it coincided with the end of Al Nassr’s 20‑game winning streak and forced a reshuffle of the attacking line that left Cristiano Ronaldo without his usual wide service.

Jesus’ selection call and match impact

Jorge Jesus said he chose not to include Mané after the forward experienced both a localized pain that prevented him from playing and difficulties related to a flu caught following a team trip. With Mané omitted, Angelo was deployed on the left wing while Cristiano Ronaldo started centrally. According to the source, Angelo and Kingsley Coman struggled to deliver consistent service to Ronaldo, and Angelo was later substituted with an injury in the 76th minute.

The coach defended the decision to rest players across the squad, noting that players such as Ronaldo and João Félix have already been rested previously. Jesus described the move as seeking a fresher option down the left.

Mané's role this season and team record with him

The source notes that Mané has been one of Al Nassr’s most influential players this season. Figures cited from Transfermarkt in the report give minute totals that rank Cristiano Ronaldo seventh for minutes (2,814) and Mané 11th (2,360) for Al Nassr. Mané’s mid‑season AFCON minutes (646) also feature in the article as a factor in his overall workload.

Across competitions, Mané has appeared in 32 matches for Al Nassr with totals of 13 goals and eight assists reported in the source material. The team’s record with Mané selected is described as 31 wins from 32 matches; without him the club reportedly has a record of seven wins, one draw and five defeats from 13 matches. These figures are drawn from the supplied source and should be checked against club/league statistical databases for publication verification.

Fitness concerns: Simakan and Angelo

Following the defeat, Al Nassr granted the squad a rest day. The club’s medical staff are expected to brief Jorge Jesus and the technical team on Mohamed Simakan and Angelo after examinations before training resumes. Both players sustained problems during the match; Angelo was substituted in the 76th minute and Simakan carried on to the final whistle.

• Sadio Mané was left out of the Al Nassr squad for the Al Qadsiah match due to a last‑minute localized pain and flu symptoms after a team trip (per Jorge Jesus).
• Al Nassr’s 20‑game winning streak ended with the defeat to Al Qadsiah.
• Angelo started on the left in place of Mané, struggled to influence the game and was substituted injured in the 76th minute.
• Cristiano Ronaldo started centrally but reportedly received limited service from wide players.
• Club medical staff will report on Mohamed Simakan and Angelo before training resumes.

What happens next

Al Nassr return to training after a rest day, with medical updates on Simakan and Angelo expected to guide selection for upcoming fixtures in the Saudi Pro League and AFC Champions League Two. Jorge Jesus stands by his decision to leave Mané out of the squad on fitness and freshness grounds; whether Mané will be available for the next match depends on the club’s medical assessments, which were not provided in the source metadata.