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Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has dismissed reports of a rift with Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the veteran forward’s absence from the team’s first two Nations League matches was part of a plan agreed with him.
Jesus spoke in Copenhagen ahead of Portugal’s Nations League clash with Denmark, amid growing reports of tension between the coach and Ronaldo.
“Cristiano is not the main reason I am here. The main reason is Denmark,” Jesus said, while limiting questions about the Portugal captain to two.
The coach said he had discussed Ronaldo’s physical condition with him before the matches against Norway and Denmark and agreed that he would not play in either game.
“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,” Jesus said.
He explained that Ronaldo had warmed up during the Norway match because he considered the possibility of using him late in the game, but eventually decided against making the substitution.
“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 also rejected reports that Ronaldo had refused to train, saying the Portugal captain completed gym work, mobility exercises and strength training as part of the team’s workload management.
“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,” Jesus said.
The coach insisted that Ronaldo’s status would not give him special treatment, saying the same approach had been applied to Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
“Player status does not grant different rights. Status is about respect for their careers, as I do with everyone,” he said.
Jesus also denied that Ronaldo’s warm-up without being brought on had caused an incident, although he acknowledged that the player would naturally be unhappy after spending time preparing to enter the game.
“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,” he said.
Addressing reports that the controversy had forced him into discussions with Ronaldo and Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença, Jesus said the matter had already been resolved.
“They forced me to talk to Cristiano about an issue that didn’t exist,” he said.
Jesus then insisted that neither Ronaldo nor anyone else would influence his decisions as Portugal coach, declaring: “No player will make me change my mind. Neither him nor anyone in football. Nor any president. Never, absolutely no one!”
