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Al-Nassr full-back Salem Al-Najdi stated that new manager Stefano Pioli's arrival motivated the side as they secured a 3-0 win over Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro-League. The victory was the Riyadh-based side's second in the league and their first under Pioli.
The Italian tactician was appointed as Al-Nassr's manager after Luis Castro was sacked following a lacklustre start to the season. The former Serie A winner will be expected to lead the Knights of Najd to glory.
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After the final whistle, Al-Nassr left-back Salem Al-Najdi credited their success to the Italian manager's arrival, saying (via Al-Nassr zone):
“Pioli's arrival gave us a morale boost.”
The defender joined Al-Nassr this summer from fellow Saudi side Al-Fateh for around €4 million, as per reports. He has made three appearances for the club so far and scored his first goal for the side against Al-Ettifaq under the former AC Milan boss.
Al-Nassr bag comfortable 3-0 win in Stefano Pioli's debut as manager
Stefano Pioli's tenure got off to a winning start as Al-Nassr bagged a comfortable 3-0 victory away at Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq side in the Saudi Pro-League. The former Rossoneri boss took over from Luis Castro and enjoyed the famed "new manager bounce" in his first game in charge.
The game got off to a fine start for Pioli as Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring by converting his 33rd minute spot-kick. The 39-year-old Portuguese superstar has scored three goals and provided one assist in his four Saudi Pro League games this season and looks set to have a fine campaign.
The visitors went into the break 1-0 up and doubled their lead in the 56th minute through left-back Salem Al-Najdi. He squeezed the ball in from a difficult angle to double his side's lead after being set up by Sadio Mane.
Mane also provided the assist for Anderson Talisca in the 70th minute to wrap up the scoring and make it 3-0. The Riyadh-based side saw out the game and now occupy fourth place in the league standings, one point behind table-toppers Al-Ittihad, who have a game in hand.
