Just one month ago, Jorge Jesus looked destined to deliver the Saudi Pro League title that has eluded Al Nassr for so long. Riding the crest of a historic 10-match winning streak, the Portuguese veteran had his side playing with an air of invincibility that left rivals trailing in their wake.
Fast forward to mid-January, and the mood at Al-Awwal Park has shifted from jubilation to open revolt. Following a chastening 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Al Hilal in the Riyadh derby on Monday, Jesus’s side find themselves not just knocked off their perch, but dragged into a humiliating scrap for the top four.
The fall from grace has been swift and brutal. Al Nassr’s cushion at the summit has evaporated following a disastrous run of form that has seen them collect just one point from their last four fixtures.
Questions are now being asked of Jesus’s rigid tactical approach. The 71-year-old, who returned to Saudi Arabia in July 2025 promising to “conquer everything” with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, now looks bereft of ideas. The rot set in with a frustrating 2-2 draw against Al Ettifaq, but it was the subsequent capitulations against Al Ahli (3-2) and Al Qadsiah (2-1) that exposed the fragility behind the high defensive line Jesus insists on employing.
Monday’s derby against Al Hilal was viewed as the moment for Jesus to reassert his authority. Instead, it confirmed the crisis. Despite taking an early lead through Ronaldo’s 15th goal of the season, Al Nassr lost control of the midfield—a recurring theme in recent weeks.
Goals from Sergej Milinković-Savić, Mohamed Kanno, and Rúben Neves condemned Jesus to a third defeat in four games. The result leaves Al Nassr seven points adrift of the unbeaten league leaders, a gap that looks unbridgeable on current form.
“We have lost our identity,” a source close to the dressing room told reporters. “The confidence from the first ten games has vanished. Every mistake is being punished.”
The pressure on Jesus is mounting. Reports in the Portuguese press suggest that key figures within the squad are growing frustrated with his intense training methods during such a congested fixture list. With the AFC Champions League knockout stages approaching, the board may be forced to act if results do not improve immediately.
While Jesus takes the brunt of the tactical criticism, he has been let down by individual errors. Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi has come under intense scrutiny after deputising for the unsettled Bento. Al-Aqidi’s errors against Al Qadsiah and Al Ahli directly led to goals, yet Jesus has persisted with the Saudi international, a decision that has baffled supporters.
Al Nassr must regroup immediately as they face a tricky away trip to Al Wehda on Friday. For Jorge Jesus, this is no longer just about winning a title; it is about saving his job.
The “Invincibles” of October have become the crisis club of January. Unless Jesus can arrest this slide and rediscover the formula that made his side so formidable in the autumn, his second spell in Riyadh could be cut short before the season is out.
Key Stats: The Slump
- First 10 Games: 10 Wins, 0 Draws, 0 Losses (30 Points)
- Last 4 Games: 0 Wins, 1 Draw, 3 Losses (1 Point)
- League Position: Dropped from 1st to 2nd (Level on points with 3rd & 4th)
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