OSLO (NORWAY) (ITALPRESS) – Cristiano Ronaldo always makes headlines, even — and especially — when he does not play. Yesterday, CR7 remained on the bench for the entire match as he watched his national teammates beat Norway in the Nations League. At the final whistle, he headed straight for the dressing room, choosing not to celebrate with the rest of the team in front of the stands filled with Portuguese supporters.
“I only noticed it after the match; only he can answer that,” Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus said when asked about the incident. “It’s not because he didn’t play. If that were the case, he would be a player I don’t count on. I do count on him. In fact, before the match I told him: ‘I won’t start you, but I’ll bring you on during the game.’
“But that’s football. Sometimes it forces you to make decisions which, in this case, I didn’t feel warranted a substitution. The match did not suit Cris’ characteristics, and now we have the game against Denmark ahead of us.
“Obviously, I have to speak with him. The Portuguese national team is the Portuguese national team; it’s not the same as a club, and he is the captain.”
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
