Neymar’s Al-Hilal manager blasts ‘in 35 years as a coach, I have never seen anything like this’ in stunning rant
AL-HILAL manager Jorge Jesus launched a startling rant at opponents Navbahor after his side’s frustrating 1-1 draw in their AFC Champions League opener.
Ex-Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Fenerbahce head coach Jesus, 69, has seen a host of stars come through the door since he returned to Al-Hilal in July after four and a half years away.
Neymar provided two assist on his Al-Hilal debut but failed to produce a goal contribution on MondayRex
Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus was furious with opponents Navbahor after the gameReuters
They included Brazilian legend Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
And Neymar, 31, made his debut in a 6-1 win over Al-Riyadh on Friday.
However, his first start did not end in victory as Uzbek visitors Navbahor earned an impressive 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League.
Al-Hilal had 77 per cent possession and 20 shots to their opponent’s five, yet only salvaged a point in the 10th minute of stoppage time through Ali Albulayhi.
And Jesus was unhappy with how Navbahor approached the game as he claimed their tactics were “far removed from football”.
He said: “It was an abnormal game. We are prepared to play against closed opponents, but what the other team did today goes against football.
“They were constant wastes of time, which made my players lose focus.
“The game was difficult, if you can call it a game, because the team we faced was repeatedly wasting time and breaking the rhythm, and I’m not used to playing against this type of team.
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“I’ve been a coach for 35 years and I’ve never seen anything like this, a team wasting time like Navbahor.
“They didn’t come in to play football. All they did was anti-play, successive fouls and wasting time and the referee didn’t control the situation.
“Our draw, it didn’t come from their defensive discipline, but from something far removed from football.”
Meanwhile, Neymar is still awaiting his first goal in an Al-Hilal shirt.
Fans were disappointed on his debut when Salem Aldawsari stepped up to take a penalty instead of Brazil’s record scorer.
Al-Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League with five wins and one draw from their opening six games.
Ex-Fulham man Mitrovic, 29, has netted five league goals – two adrift of the division’s top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
