Portugal coach Jorge Jesus don talk say him squad dey united behind am, after Cristiano Ronaldo comot from camp and Portugal still go beat Denmark 4-2 on Thursday for Copenhagen.
Ronaldo, wey be top scorer for men international football history, leave camp on Wednesday. E happen shortly after Jesus tell news conference say the 41-year-old go start from bench for second straight game.
But Portugal no show any sign say the saga shake them. Defending champions keep their perfect record for UEFA Nations League. Dem win 4-2 for Copenhagen.
‘There’s nothing that should stop the group from being with me,’ Jesus tell Sport TV when dem ask whether him believe say group dey with am. ‘I understand the question. The important thing is what we have to do. The things that happen don’t separate the group; they haven’t separated us and they won’t separate us.’
When dem ask if him go accept Ronaldo back if him wan return, Jesus talk after match: ‘A high-quality victory, with four goals, a top-level performance. It can’t be overlooked. It’s more important than everything that happened. That’s what I want to focus on. Returning to Portugal, the people will fight at the Dragao stadium.’
Jesus take over from Roberto Martinez after Portugal World Cup round-of-16 exit. Him don put team for pole position to reach quarterfinals. ‘I have a squad that believes in my vision,’ him tell RTP. ‘With so much individual quality, things come more easily. They’re right behind me and my ideas.’
AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos take Ronaldo place for second straight game on Thursday. Him repay coach faith with assist for Joao Cancelo opener and then score him second goal in two games. ‘Above all, the new manager is a great help,’ Ramos talk. ‘We have clearer ideas; we know exactly where each teammate is, both in defense and attack. You can see that in our performance today, but also in our recent matches. We’re improving day by day, and it’s all part of a process. We’re very happy with the win, once again against a good team.’
Midfielder Vitinha score Portugal decisive third goal before Joao Felix seal win late. ‘It’s the work of the coach,’ Vitinha talk when dem ask about Portugal improvement. ‘We played an excellent game. I think beyond the win, the content of our game was great. I think it was our best display so far. We have been improving in these three games, and what’s true is that the more time we spend with the coach, the more we are assimilating his ideas,’ the two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain talk.
On Ronaldo absence, Vitinha add: ‘We tried to focus just on the game. I think we gave an incredible response. Congratulations to the whole squad for that.’
Jesus talk before kickoff say him no go provide more details on wetin happen behind scenes with Ronaldo until after Portugal wrap current international window by hosting Norway on Sunday. Defender Renato Veiga suggest say whole squad get same instruction. ‘I’m very close to Cris, and he knows I have a great deal of affection for him, but I’ve been given instructions and I can’t talk about the matter,’ him talk.
For Denmark side, Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Ramos twice give visitors lead. Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Hojlund level for Denmark. Ex-Manchester United striker Hojlund mark him goal with Ronaldo trademark ‘Siuuu’ celebration, something him don do before against Portugal. Vitinha put Portugal ahead again with header from Bruno Fernandes ball and Joao Felix add late fourth for Copenhagen.
Na first match since 41-year-old Ronaldo, record goalscorer for men international football, leave camp after dem put am on bench against Norway. After win for Denmark, boss Jorge Jesus, 72, talk: ‘I still think exactly the same way – there are players with status. That much is crystal clear. But I’ll say it again – the rules are the same for everyone. That’s a method I’ve followed throughout my coaching career and I’ll continue to follow.’
Ronaldo sister, Elma Aveiro, earlier write on social media: ‘Betrayal is a dish best served cold.’ The forward don be effectively undroppable for years, with 146 goals and 234 caps for Portugal. But for him less mobile older years, feeling dey say maybe Al-Nassr player, who get 979 career goals, dey hold back national team.
Ronaldo reunite with old boss at Al-Nassr Jesus this summer after Roberto Martinez resign as Portugal head coach. Veteran captain start for 1-0 Nations League win over Wales, but him no play for 2-1 victory in Norway. Na first time since 2008 Ronaldo be unused substitute for him country.
‘He gets asked to warm up for the whole of the second half practically [without coming on],’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague talk on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘There are tacit rules in football: you don’t do that to Pele, to Diego Maradona, to Lionel Messi, to Cristiano, right? That’s what he’s seen, that you don’t do that to those kind of players.’
Jesus deny say rift dey, but Ronaldo then leave camp, saying him go explain reasons behind him departure ‘in time.’ Balague, who write book about Ronaldo in 2015, add: ‘Some journalists close to Cristiano have been saying one day we’ll come out with the whole story. So there is something else that was said, perhaps promised to Cristiano, that has not been delivered. Cristiano has been a shareholder in some of the key media outlets in Portugal, so a story will be told somehow, somewhere, by some of these people and it will be a war and let’s see who wins it.’
Fellow Euro Leagues podcast guest James Horncastle talk: ‘I am disappointed in Ronaldo’s behaviour. As a captain, as a leader of the team, he should still be there. He should put side before self, and it doesn’t look like he’s doing that in this occasion.’
Portuguese fans don become used to Jesus short temper and directness. If ever person go challenge Ronaldo status inside Portugal dressing room, na Jesus. Him do that with Neymar at Al-Hilal, telling Brazilian say him ‘finished.’ As Belenenses manager, long before him become household name, Jesus even confront and stop soundcheck from American rapper 50 Cent at Restelo stadium, forcing am to shut down because e dey interfere with training. Him no fear anybody and that represent major break from overly diplomatic style of him predecessor Roberto Martinez.
Ronaldo hear message loud and clear, decide to pack him bags and abandon national team. For Portugal last five coaches, Ronaldo get issues with four of them – Carlos Queiroz, Paulo Bento, Fernando Santos and now Jesus. That too much distraction when Portugal now get arguably their best generation ever.
At 2022 World Cup, Fernando Santos get bravery to drop am to bench for knockout stages, but this summer him play all bar nine minutes under Martinez. After 1-0 loss to Spain for last 16 of World Cup, BBC pundit Chris Sutton talk: ‘He’s waddling around the field like a grandad – that’s why Portugal are out.’
Since 2017, Portugal win percentage without Ronaldo slightly better – 64% to 63% – and dem score 2.7 goals a game without am compared to 2.1 with am. In past five years, Ronaldo only miss two qualifiers for World Cup or Euros, both through suspension, and dem end up being team two biggest wins ever – 9-0 over Luxembourg and 9-1 against Armenia.
