Portugal Coach Details Decision to Bench Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal's head coach, Jorge Jesus, has clarified the reasons behind his decision to keep star player Cristiano Ronaldo on the substitutes' bench and not involve him in the match against hosts Norway in the UEFA Nations League. The Portuguese national team secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in the match held on Sunday evening at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, as part of the second round of the tournament. The goals for Portugal were scored by forwards Gonçalo Ramos and João Félix, who started in the attacking line instead of Ronaldo. Following the match, Jesus told the media: "I saw that the course of the game required something different, and it was not the right moment to bring him on." He added: "There are other matches where he can help us a lot, as he is a player who possesses experience." Prior to the match, Jesus had indicated that "Today is the third day. Ronaldo played approximately 70 minutes in the Wales match, and I felt he couldn't start two consecutive matches today." He emphasized the player's importance by stating: "We want Ronaldo in these four matches, even if it's for just a few minutes, but we want him on the field." Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, had started in last Thursday's match, which Portugal won by a single goal against Wales. The Portuguese team, current champions of the tournament, is scheduled to visit Denmark next Thursday and will host Norway on October 4. It is noteworthy that Ronaldo's last appearance as a substitute for the Portuguese national team was approximately two years ago, specifically on September 8, 2024, in a UEFA Nations League match against Scotland (Portugal won 2-1). In that game, coach Roberto Martinez brought him on in the second half, and Ronaldo sealed the match with a goal in the 88th minute.