"Ronaldo is the best in history": Hojlund directs an accusation at Jesus
The Portugal match moment returns to the fore
Rasmus Hojlund has broken his silence on his flashpoint with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus, speaking for the first time after Denmark's 1-0 win over Wales in Cardiff on Sunday evening. The incident had sparked questions in the wake of Portugal's match in Copenhagen last Thursday.
Hojlund had struck his country's equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Portugal and celebrated with Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark "siu". Television cameras then caught him giving Jesus a light push to the chest during the post-match handshake.
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Ronaldo had walked out of the Portugal camp a day before the game after falling out with Jesus over his omission from the starting line-up. Many were quick to link the two incidents.
Speaking to Danish channel TV 2, Hojlund rejected any connection between the push and the decision to leave out his idol Ronaldo.
The Napoli star accused Jesus of overstepping the bounds of sportsmanship. "As we talked about after the Portugal match, my celebration was a tribute to Ronaldo," he said of the moment between them. "The push has nothing to do with coach Jesus's decision (regarding Ronaldo). The reason is that he (Jesus) couldn't be bothered to look at me. I think that is unsporting behaviour."
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He added: "You have to shake people's hands properly after a football match. I got a cold push in my chest, and he completely ignored me. So I got his attention saying: 'Hey, are we serious?' That was all there was to it."
He continued: "Yes, the celebration was dedicated to my favourite star (Ronaldo)."
"I know very well that you (the media) want catchy headlines, and that's what you get with him, but yes, Poulsen (the former Denmark player and channel analyst) knows that very well too," he went on. "Even back then I wasn't afraid to say that Cristiano was my idol (since his early days at Manchester United)."
The Danish striker had more to say. "It's funny that half a year after Ronaldo's departure (from United) I suddenly found myself almost having to take his place in some way. So it was a funny journey. As I said, I think he has a great mentality, and I hope Portugal and Cristiano sort it out, because it would be an unfortunate way for it to end for a player."
He concluded: "For me, Ronaldo is the greatest in the history of football ever."
Hojlund and Denmark now travel to Portugal in the Nations League on 14 November, with Jesus's side having won the previous meeting 4-2.
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