Italian coach Stefano Pioli surprised fans with his decision to exclude Cristiano Ronaldo from the match against Iranian Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League.

Pioli confirmed during a press conference that the Portuguese star is suffering from physical fatigue, noting that he is not suffering from a serious injury, but he preferred to give him a rest.

The coach explained that Al Nassr prepared well for the match and trusts his players' ability to compensate for Ronaldo's absence, despite the difficulty of the encounter.

Pioli spoke about the pressure of matches, confirming that the team arrived in Iran recently and went directly to the stadium, without having enough time for training.

The coach pointed out that Al Nassr faced similar circumstances in their match against Persepolis, where they could not train at Azadi Stadium before the encounter.

Despite the difficulties, Pioli affirmed that the team is ready to deliver a strong performance, striving for a positive result and proving their ability to compete on a continental level.