RIYADH — In the wake of an intense showdown with Al-Ettifaq, Al-Nassr's Brazilian coach, Luis Castro, reminisced about their triumphant encounter with Al-Hilal while addressing the dismissal of Brazilian player Anderson Talisca. Castro emphasized that they were the superior team on the field, deserving the victory and advancement to the next round.
During the post-match press conference, Castro proudly noted, "We have won 14 out of our last 15 matches, and we will continue our battle as we did today. I am pleased with the victory and the overwhelming support from our fans in the stands."
When questioned about remarks made by Gerard, Al-Ettifaq's coach, regarding the refereeing, Castro chose not to comment on the statements of his fellow coach. He affirmed his belief that they had two penalty kicks, and Talisca's goal was legitimate.
Expanding on his assessment, Castro mentioned, "Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage from the end of the first half, Al-Ettifaq only managed to reach our goal once in the second half. We demonstrated superiority in extra time and, overall, deserved the win against a worthy opponent with a respected coach."
Responding to inquiries about Talisca's potential inclusion in the Brazilian national team, Castro declined to comment out of respect for his colleague, the coach of the Brazilian national team, but praised Talisca's significant capabilities and role in their squad.
Regarding player Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Al-Nassr's coach lauded him as an intelligent player with exceptional ball-handling and delivery skills, explaining his deployment in the right-back position.
Castro also disclosed his halftime conversation with the match referee, where he expressed his disagreement with the disallowed goal by Talisca, believing it was incorrect. He pointed out the use of Video Assistant Referee technology and the team's perceived lack of penalties in comparison to other teams.
Concluding his remarks, Castro emphasized their team's fearless approach, stating, "Talisca is not easily provoked, and his response to the red card was straightforward. We fear no team because we approach every match with a winning mentality."
