“It does not affect us at all”, Portugal head coach Fernando Santos insist that Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview doesn’t affect the national team

“It does not affect us at all”, Portugal head coach Fernando Santos insist that Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview doesn’t affect the national team

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s explosive interview has not distracted Portugal’s players, according to head coach Fernando Santos, as they get ready for their final game before leaving for the World Cup in Qatar on Thursday: a friendly against Nigeria in Lisbon.

When asked if Ronaldo’s criticism of his club Manchester United had affected his team as they prepared for the World Cup, Santos responded that the national team has nothing to do with what happened with his most famous player. “The player decided to give an interview as many others have,” Santos stated at a news conference on Wednesday in Lisbon.

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“It’s a personal interview, very personal actually, and we have to respect that. Isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo a free man?… It was his decision and we have to understand and respect it.” Since the players reported for duty on Monday, according to Santos, no one has mentioned the interview. 

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Fernando Santos’ Thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview:

“The only thing we talk about is the preparation for Qatar. It (the interview) does not affect us at all,” Santos stated. He said that Ronaldo was suffering from a stomach issue and would miss practice on Wednesday and the friendly against Nigeria on Thursday. 

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“He is in his room resting and recovering. He won’t practice and won’t be ready for tomorrow’s game either,” coach Santos said. “He will play but I’m still deciding if it will be from the start,” Santos answered. “I have full confidence in the group. Not only Ronaldo but all the players are very focused. The players have given me absolute guarantee – not that I need it – of the total focus and ambition they have for this World Cup.”

There have been rumors that Ronaldo may be pulled from the Portugal team due to his dissatisfaction with his limited playing time at United, but Santos adamantly denied that would ever happen. Portugal will play against Ghana next Thursday before taking on Uruguay, South Korea, and Ghana.

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