Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has denied reports of a dispute with captain Cristiano Ronaldo following the veteran forward’s omission from the team’s Nations League victory over Norway and his subsequent absence from training.
Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen ahead of Portugal’s Nations League clash with Denmark on Wednesday, Jesus said Ronaldo’s omission from Portugal’s first two matches was part of a plan agreed with the player in advance.
Jesus said he had discussed Ronaldo’s physical condition with him and reached an agreement that the forward would not feature against either Norway or Denmark.
“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,” Jesus said.
The coach, who previously worked with Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, said he was familiar with the player’s physical condition and had no concerns over their relationship.
Jesus also rejected suggestions that Ronaldo had refused to accept the decision, noting that the Portugal captain had earlier indicated that he would respect whatever decision the coach made.
“He never refused anything. That’s what happened,” he said.
According to Jesus, he had considered the possibility of bringing Ronaldo into the match against Norway but ultimately decided against it based on how the game unfolded.
“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,” he explained.
Jesus further dismissed reports of tension between himself and Ronaldo, insisting that the same principles applied to every player in the squad regardless of status.
“There is no problem here,” the coach said.
He explained that while a player’s status and previous achievements could influence how he managed their workload, all players remained subject to the same team rules.
“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,” Jesus said.
The coach also cited his handling of midfielder Bruno Fernandes as an example of the same approach.
Jesus said he had spoken with Fernandes after the midfielder suffered an injury and subsequently told him he would not play the next match but could feature against Denmark if he recovered.
“Player status does not grant different rights. Status is about respect for their careers, as I do with everyone,” he stated.
Jesus limited questions about Ronaldo at the press conference, stressing that Portugal’s main focus was their Nations League objective and the challenge posed by Denmark.
“Cristiano is not the main reason I am here. The main reason is Denmark,” he said.
The coach was also questioned about reports that Ronaldo had refused to train, but the account provided in the available report ends before his response to that specific question.