Jesus: Cristiano Ronaldo or anyone else will not change my ideas
Jesus confirms he is in control of affairs within the national team
Jorge Jesus has made one thing clear: Cristiano Ronaldo does not pick the team. Portugal's head coach insisted the decisions are his alone, speaking at the press conference ahead of tomorrow's clash with Denmark, the third round of the UEFA Nations League, at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Jesus said: "I told him (Ronaldo) that he would not start the matches against Norway and Denmark. I worked for a year with Cris. I know his physical condition perfectly. I was already doing that in Saudi Arabia, when we played every three days... And I told him that he would be present wherever and whenever the need arose. And that is what happened."
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Despite talk of a verbal promise, Jesus left Ronaldo out against Norway and defended the call by pointing to the team's interests. The way the game against Erling Haaland and company unfolded, he argued, simply never opened the door for the 41-year-old forward.
"The one in charge"
The former Sporting Lisbon and Benfica coach said: "Status is one thing, but the rules are the same for everyone. Status comes from his past and his career... One must pay attention, but I always decide according to the team's objective."
He then went further: "I am the one who decides. Whoever has worked with me knows that. At the club, the president is the one who gives orders, but on the team, I am the one who gives orders. Not Cristiano, and there will never be a player who changes my ideas as a coach. Neither him, nor anyone else."
Would Ronaldo come on against Denmark in place of first-choice striker Gonçalo Ramos? Jesus wasn't committing. "I don't know. It depends on the match," he replied.
The comments followed reports of Ronaldo's anger at being left out of Sunday's 2-1 win over Norway in the second round of the UEFA Nations League.
"The Don" played no part in that game, not even from the bench, and he skipped training with his teammates on both Monday and Tuesday. Jesus had explained beforehand that he planned to bring him on, though a start looked unlikely.
At the final whistle in Oslo, Ronaldo walked straight from the substitutes' bench down the tunnel. He did not join his teammates in saluting the Portuguese fans who had made the trip.
