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Portugal boss Fernando Santos says he has a ‘very close relationship’ with Cristiano Ronaldo and their dispute over the veteran’s tantrum is ‘over’… as he insists he was ruled out in the 6-1 win over Switzerland for tactical reasons.
Fernando Santos is sure his personal bond with Cristiano Ronaldo will not be broken even though he left him out of the squad before Portugal crushed Switzerland six times.
“I have a very close relationship,” Santos said. I have known him since he was 19 years old at Sporting and then he began to develop in the national team when I arrived in 2014.
‘Ronaldo and I never misinterpret the human and personal aspect with that of coach and player. I will always consider him a very important player to have in the team.”
Portugal manager Fernando Santos insisted it was a tactical decision to drop Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal put in their most emphatic performance of the World Cup and the 68-year-old had to admit that he liked the look of his team without their 37-year-old superstar striker.
“That’s what was intended, what we wanted,” Santos said. “We wanted a team that played very fluidly. We played very well. We were a team that circulated, had possession of the ball.
“We had a lot of confidence, we played with a lot of determination and unity, and that is reflected in the ability to win the ball back. Everything worked very well.
Santos insisted his decision to leave Ronaldo out had been tactical, not disciplinary, following the captain’s tantrum on Friday when he was substituted late in a loss to South Korea, but the coach soon tired of questions about the topic.
Santos said there were no issues between him or Ronaldo after replacing him in their last game and benching the legendary striker against Switzerland.
Ronaldo had a tantrum when he was substituted late in Portugal’s loss to South Korea.
“This is something that is finished and solved,” he added. “It’s also important to look at the example of this player’s history, he is one of the best players in the world.”
Ronaldo’s replacement was Goncalo Ramos, a 21-year-old Benfica who made his international debut in a friendly against Nigeria, three days before the World Cup began, and got the nod ahead of Leipzig’s Andre Silva.
“Goncalo has different characteristics,” Santos said. ‘Andre is a great player who plays more advanced. Cristiano is more fixed, in a certain area towards the area. Goncalo is very dynamic and that is what he ended up showing us.
It’s nothing new. He has already entered two games, but I have three players I fully trust and for each game I will use the player I see for my strategy.”
Santos praised Ronaldo’s replacement, Goncalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick
The Portugal coach highlighted how Ramos has ‘different characteristics’ from Ronaldo
However, it will be a bold decision to rule Ramos out of Saturday’s quarterfinal against Morocco after this performance.
“Honestly, no one on our team talked about it,” Ramos said, when asked how the team’s surprising selection was received. ‘Cristiano, as captain, did what he always does, he helped us, he encouraged us, not only me but also my teammates.
“Not in my wildest dream did I think I would be part of the starting 11 in the knockout stages of the World Cup.”