Portugal Coach Jesus Explains What Happened With Ronaldo

Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has provided his account of the events involving captain Cristiano Ronaldo after the veteran forward was left out of Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway and subsequently missed part of the team’s training programme.

New Telegraph gathered that Jesus insisted there was no disagreement between him and Ronaldo, explaining that the decision over the forward’s involvement in Portugal’s opening two matches had been discussed with him beforehand.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen ahead of Portugal’s Nations League clash with Denmark, Jesus addressed the speculation surrounding Ronaldo while stressing that his main focus remained on the team.

“I want to make an introduction. The most important thing is the objective we are pursuing in Copenhagen.

It is about respecting our opponent; we are playing against a great team. Our mission is to win the Nations League.

“I don’t have just one player, I have 23. You can ask me whatever you want about any of them.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, one question is too few. Three are too many. I will only allow two questions about him.

“Cristiano is not the main reason I am here. The main reason is Denmark,” he said.

Jesus explained that Ronaldo’s absence from Portugal’s first two matches was part of a plan agreed with the player based on his physical condition.

He said, “It’s true that I discussed it with him. We created a plan, just as we did with Bruno Fernandes, and I told Cris that he would not play in the match against Norway or against Denmark.

“I worked with Cris for a year. I didn’t arrive at the national team three months ago and suddenly meet him. I know his physical condition perfectly, and I already knew from my time in Saudi Arabia, when we had matches every three days, that Cris rarely played every game.”

Jesus added that Ronaldo had previously indicated that he would respect whatever decision the coach made.

“During the match, in the first press conference in Portugal, he said: ‘If it’s to play, if it’s to be on the bench, I will stay, whatever the coach wants.’ He never refused anything. That’s what happened,” he stated.

The coach said he had considered introducing Ronaldo late in the game but ultimately decided against it.

“I am a coach who does not go to the bench thinking that at minute 60 I will bring on Carlos Daniel. That’s not how I work. The match will tell me what I’m going to do.

“I had agreed with him that he would not play the first two matches, but maybe I would even have needed him in the final minutes. The match told me otherwise, and I didn’t put him on. That is the key point,” he said.

Jesus rejected suggestions that the decision had created a dispute between him and Ronaldo.

“Now, let me tell you. I spent a year working with Cristiano. There is no problem here, man.

“I have had problems with many players. They didn’t want to make a drama out of something that doesn’t exist. I had a plan with Bruno, and everything was the same.

“This is to tell you that status is one thing. The rules are the same for everyone.

“Status allows the coach, based on a player’s past, to be cautious with decisions before the match.

After the match, it’s the same. The coach has to decide, and always decides based on the objective, which is what’s best for the team.” Jesus said he had taken a similar approach with Bruno Fernandes.

“I told the same to Bruno Fernandes. After the match against Wales, he got injured, but I know Bruno. I worked with him.

I asked him: ‘What’s wrong with you? You’re not the Bruno I know.’

“He was honest with me. I told him: ‘You won’t play the next match. You will play the next match in Denmark if you recover.’

Exactly what I did with Cristiano. “Player status does not grant different rights. Status is about respect for their careers, as I do with everyone,” he stated.

Jesus was also asked about reports that Ronaldo had refused to train and strongly rejected the claim. “He did not refuse to train.

Francisco Conceição, who was injured, didn’t train, nor did João Félix, because we tried to manage their fatigue and we’ll see tomorrow.

“Cris did gym work. He did mobility exercises on the field and then strength work at the hotel. He did not refuse. He will train today. It is the fourth day, so he will train,” he said.

Jesus reiterated his position when questioned again about whether Ronaldo had refused to train.

“And he did not refuse to train. It is impossible. Do you believe it? It’s not Cris.

“Do you think any player on a national team refuses to train? Not in Portugal. In another national team, maybe. Only if he wants to leave and has other ideas. No one refuses to train,” he said.

Ronaldo warmed up during Portugal’s match against Norway but was ultimately not introduced.

Jesus said there was nothing unusual about the situation and acknowledged that Ronaldo would naturally have been disappointed after warming up without entering the game.

“There was no incident. I already explained why it happened. I will explain it again. I have no problem with incidents. I have had many throughout my career. But don’t try to create a scandal.

“I told Cristiano he would not play these two matches. During the match, I thought maybe I would need him, so he warmed up. Then I didn’t put him on,” he said.

Jesus acknowledged that Ronaldo would understandably have been unhappy with the situation.

“Any player, when we are warming up for 20 or 30 minutes and then doesn’t come on, is not happy about that. Nobody is. Much less Cristiano. Much less Pelé or Maradona,” he said.

Jesus maintained that he had already explained his plans directly to Ronaldo and did not believe there was any unresolved issue between them.

“They forced me to talk to Cristiano about an issue that didn’t exist. “What we talked about was what he said in the press conference.

He said: ‘I am here for you to decide. If you want me to play, I will play. If you want me to go to the stands, I will go,” he said.

Jesus revealed that Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença also spoke with him after reports about the situation emerged.

“The president came, obviously. He has to be here with the team. He wanted to know what had happened because of what was being said in Portugal.

“But after dinner, we had already solved the problem, which was not a problem,” he said.

Asked whether he had promised Ronaldo 30 minutes against Denmark, Jesus insisted that his authority as coach meant he would make the final decision.

“I can promise whatever I want. I am the coach.

“This is very confusing for you. I am the coach. I told the player he should not play. I will put you on the bench. If I need you for 30 minutes, you will play; if not, you won’t,” he said.

Jesus then delivered his strongest statement of the press conference.

“No player will make me change my mind. Neither him nor anyone in football. Nor any president. Never, absolutely no one!” he stated.

Jesus’ comments came shortly before Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen, with reports claiming that the captain departed in a Portuguese Football Federation vehicle.

Ronaldo later confirmed his departure and said he would explain the reasons behind his decision “in due course”.