‘Do you miss Ronaldo?’ Jorge Jesus asked after Portugal suffer 4-1 defeat to Denmark

Soccer Football - Nations League - Group B - Portugal v Wales - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - September 24, 2026 Portugal coach Jorge Jesus before the match REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

Portugal had already paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo before their defeat to Denmark, with the entire squad walking on to the pitch wearing shirts bearing his iconic No. 7. The gesture continued into the match, with play stopped in the seventh minute for a standing ovation and applause around the stadium.

But after Portugal's 4-1 loss in Braga, and supporters chanting Ronaldo's name as they began leaving the stands, Jorge Jesus faced a more direct question: did he miss the former captain?

Jorge Jesus refuses to blame Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence for Portugal defeat

The defeat came in Portugal’s first match since Ronaldo announced his decision to step away from the national team. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Rasmus Højlund struck twice and Joachim Andersen added another goal for Denmark.

Bernardo Silva scored a late consolation, but it did little to ease the frustration among the home supporters.As Denmark moved into a commanding 4-1 lead, sections of the crowd began leaving the stands, while others chanted Ronaldo’s name. The reaction brought the 41-year-old back into the discussion surrounding Portugal, despite his absence from the squad.

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A4 - Portugal v Denmark - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - November 14, 2026 Portugal players line up with young mascots during the national

Jesus was asked whether he missed Ronaldo or felt his absence had affected the team.

The Portugal coach rejected the suggestion that the two issues were connected, while acknowledging why supporters continued to remember the contribution of a player who represented his country for 23 years.“One thing has nothing to do with the other. People miss him, they haven't forgotten what Cristiano did for 23 years with the national team,” Jesus said.“There's no going back. Some people left when the team was losing 4-1.

Nobody is happy, and we weren't prepared to lose 4-1 today either.“Do I miss him? How can I miss him when he is no longer in the national team? The only way I would miss him is if he were beside me, but he no longer plays, he is no longer here, he made his own decision.”

The distinction was important to Jesus. He recognised the affection supporters continued to have for Ronaldo, but did not accept that the chants or the defeat should be interpreted as evidence that Portugal's performance had suffered because he was no longer involved.

His immediate concern was the manner of the loss, particularly the four goals conceded on home soil.

Jesus accepts responsibility as Denmark expose Portugal’s defensive weaknesses

Jesus said Portugal had failed to reproduce the defensive organisation they showed in the first meeting, which they won 4-2. Denmark found greater freedom in Braga, particularly after pressing higher in the second half and exploiting the space behind Portugal’s defensive line.He traced the problem to Portugal’s forwards, whose failure to press allowed Denmark to advance and build attacks with little resistance.

The visitors repeatedly exposed gaps between Alberto and Rúben Dias, scoring twice from similar moves that began deep in their own half and ended with crosses into the box. Jesus said Denmark had read Portugal’s movements and identified where to attack.The coach accepted responsibility for the performance, saying the players’ failure to carry out what they had worked on in training reflected on his instructions.“If the team couldn't do it, it has to do with my instructions.“They couldn't introduce into the game what we normally work on these days and what we've been doing well, especially defensively.“It was unthinkable that Denmark would score four goals against us. But whoever doesn't defend well, as happened today, can't stop Denmark.“When they reached our last line, we had a lot of difficulty containing their forwards.”

Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A4 - Portugal v Denmark - Estadio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal - November 14, 2026 Portugal coach Jorge Jesus looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Rita Franca

Jesus also acknowledged that some players had not returned to the required level of competitive readiness after spending two weeks away from club football. That lack of sharpness, combined with the team's inability to respond to Denmark's pressing, made it difficult for Portugal to recover once the visitors began scoring.The coach had been considering giving opportunities to several players against Wales, but the defeat has changed his thinking.

He now expects to favour those who have delivered convincing performances and contributed to Portugal's previous four victories, with the aim of restoring balance to the side and securing qualification.

Portugal turn attention to Wales after damaging night in Braga

Despite the scale of the defeat, Jesus refused to allow one poor performance to undermine the work Portugal had done in their opening four matches. He insisted that the team's earlier results remained valid and that the loss to Denmark should be judged as a bad night rather than a reason to question the progress made during the group campaign.“I will not cast doubt on the journey the team went through in those four matches, during which we achieved strong victories.”After the final whistle, Jesus went to the dressing room to address the players and try to lift their morale. He reminded them that Portugal remained top of the group and still had an opportunity to finish first, although he made no attempt to disguise his disappointment with the result. He also acknowledged that Denmark had deserved the victory.The speed with which the goals arrived had affected Portugal psychologically, he explained. As the deficit grew, the players' belief that they could recover began to diminish, making it increasingly difficult to regain control of the match.

Jesus now wants his squad to put the result behind them and concentrate on the final group fixture against Wales. Portugal's next match, scheduled for November 18, represents their final opportunity to confirm top spot and secure a place in the quarter-finals.

The coach had considered rotating the side, but the performance against Denmark has made him more inclined to select players whose recent displays have justified their inclusion.Portugal remain in a qualifying position despite the defeat, and Jesus was determined not to let the result erase the four victories that preceded it. His immediate task is to restore confidence, address the defensive problems exposed by Denmark and select a team capable of responding against Wales.