An overly cautious approach, football that would cure insomnia and a lack of anything resembling a coherent attacking plan; those criticisms hung over Nuno Espirito Santo like a bad smell at Tottenham Hotspur and towards the end of his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers are, once again, being levelled at a man who, despite taking Al-Ittihad to third in the Saudi Pro League, is already facing question marks over his future.
“Many of Al-Ittihad fans are not convinced by the way Nuno plays,” explains Al-Ittihad legend Mohamed Nour, highlighting an ongoing disconnect between the supporters and their head coach.
“(Nuno’s style) is the profitable the team and, at, the same, not interesting for the viewer, because he only wants to achieve results.”
Those results, in Nuno’s defence, are far from unimpressive. Al-Ittihad have won four and drawn three of their seven league games; Nuno yet to taste defeat since moving to the Middle East in June.
The concerns, however, are not about the accumulation of points but the shortage of excitement. Al-Ittihad averaged over two goals a game in 2021/22. Since Nuno’s appointment, they are averaging just 1.4 goals per game in contrast; 10 from seven matches. A clear decline productivity and threat in the final third.
Nuno Espirito Santo under pressure in Saudi Arabia
“Cynics see Nuno’s defensive methods as revealing his technical bankruptcy. His reliance upon luck to score goals. Relying on counter-attacks or rivals’ mistakes,” explains reporter Talal Al-Hamoud in an article titled ‘Nuno the Terrible’, comparing the 48-year-old’s cagey, guarded approach to spending two painful hours in a dental clinic.
“In general, the behaviour of Al-Ittihad supporters towards Nuno Santo shows respect for his contract. But this does not necessarily mean that Al-Ittihad fans have patience equalling the ability of Arsenal supporters to tolerate Arsene Wenger.”
Nuno’s game-management is also becoming a subject of debate. His substitutions, some argued, resulted in Al-Ittihad coughing up the initiative – and eventually the lead – during the frustrating 1-1 draw with Damac last time out.
Will Nuno return to Wolves?
Nuno spent only 17 games at Tottenham before losing his job to Antonio Conte. There is a chance he won’t even last that long at Al-Ittihad. Reports suggest that his future at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is already uncertain, amid disagreements between the coach and the board.
Some have even claimed that Nuno Espirito Santo could be on his way back to Wolverhampton Wanderers, following the sacking of Bruno Lage and the calling off of negotiations with Julen Lopetegui. Despite a rather underwhelming end to his four-year spell at Molineux, Nuno remains immensely popular amongst many supporters. The Athletic, meanwhile, believes that, while some bridges were singed, they did not burn to the ground; the relationship between Nuno and the Wolves bosses far from untenable.
According to the Daily Mail, that Nuno is keen on a return to his old stomping ground. Whether that desire goes both ways, however, only time will tell.
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