What happened with Ronaldo — Portugal coach Jorge Jesus explains

Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has given his account of the events surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo after the captain was left out of Portugal’s Nations League victory over Norway and subsequently missed team training.

According to AS USA, Jesus insisted there was no dispute between him and Ronaldo, saying the decision to leave the veteran forward out of Portugal’s first two matches had been discussed with him in advance.

Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen ahead of Portugal’s Nations League meeting with Denmark on Wednesday, Jesus addressed the reports surrounding Ronaldo, with AS USA reporting his comments.

Jesus began by limiting questions about the Portugal captain.

“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.

Why Ronaldo did not play

Jesus said Ronaldo’s absence from Portugal’s first two matches was part of a plan he had agreed with the player because of 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 said Ronaldo had also told him that he would accept 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 using 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 strongly rejected suggestions that his decision had caused a dispute with 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.”

He said he had followed the same 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.

Did Ronaldo refuse to train?

Jesus was also asked about reports that Ronaldo had refused to train.

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He rejected the suggestion outright.

“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 was particularly emphatic when asked again 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.

Why Ronaldo warmed up but did not play

Ronaldo warmed up during Portugal’s match but was not brought on.

Jesus said there was nothing unusual about the situation and that Ronaldo’s reaction was understandable.

“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 naturally have been unhappy after warming up without entering 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. Much less Pelé or Maradona,” he said.

‘No player will make me change my mind’

Jesus said 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 said Portugal Football Federation president Pedro Proença also spoke to 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 made his position clear.

“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.

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

Ronaldo later said he would explain the reasons for his departure “in due course”.