Jesus insists Ronaldo will not dictate Portugal team decisions

Giorgi Jesus says Cristiano Ronaldo will not influence his tactical decisions for Portugal, insisting the manager alone has the final say over team selection.

Jesus was speaking at his pre-match news conference before Thursday’s Nations League meeting with Denmark at Parken in Copenhagen.

He confirmed that Ronaldo would not start either Portugal’s match against Norway or the game in Denmark, explaining that the decision had been based on the forward’s physical condition.

“I told him that he would not start the matches against Norway and Denmark,” Jesus said. “I worked with Cris for a year, so I know exactly what his physical condition is. I was already doing this in Saudi Arabia, when we were playing every three days.

“I told him he would be available when and where he was needed. That is what happened.”

‘I am the one who decides’

Jesus was also asked why Ronaldo had not been brought on during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo on Sunday, despite reports of a verbal promise that he would play.

The manager said the circumstances of the match, which featured Erling Haaland and his Norway team-mates, did not require him to use the 41-year-old striker.

“I can promise whatever I want. I am the coach,” Jesus said. “I told the player he would not start the match and would be on the bench. If I needed him for 30 minutes, he would play. If I did not need him, he would not play.

“No player will change my ideas – not him, not anyone else in football, and not even a president. That will never happen.”

The former Sporting Lisbon and Benfica manager added that Ronaldo’s status did not alter the principles applied to the squad.

“Status is one thing, but the rules are the same for everyone,” he said. “His status comes from his past and his career, and that must be taken into account, but I always make decisions according to the team’s objective.

“I am the one who decides. Anyone who has worked with me knows that. At a club, the president is the person in charge. In the team, I am the person in charge.”

Asked whether Ronaldo would replace Portugal’s regular striker Goncalo Ramos against Denmark, Jesus replied: “I don’t know. It depends on the match.”

The comments followed reports that Ronaldo was unhappy after being left unused in the win over Norway in the second round of the Nations League.

He did not take part in the match, either from the starting line-up or the substitutes’ bench, and did not train with his team-mates on Monday or Tuesday.

Before the Norway fixture, Jesus had said he intended to use Ronaldo, although he was unlikely to select him from the start.

After the final whistle in Oslo, Ronaldo went straight from the bench to the tunnel and did not join his Portugal team-mates in applauding the Portuguese supporters who had attended the match.