Portugal's head coach Jorge Jesus has insisted the turbulence surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from the national squad will not derail his team, as they continued their Nations League campaign with another impressive victory.
Ronaldo had started Portugal's 1-0 win over Wales before being named among the substitutes for the subsequent 2-1 victory against Norway, a match in which he did not feature at all. Shortly afterward, the forward departed the squad, a development that prompted a pointed reaction from his sister, Elma Aveiro, who posted on social media that "betrayal is a dish best served cold," a remark widely interpreted as a dig at the coaching staff.
Despite the controversy swirling around Ronaldo's situation, Portugal have shown no signs of being distracted on the pitch. They followed up their win over Norway with a commanding 4-2 victory against Denmark, a result that marked their third consecutive win and kept them at the summit of Group A4. Notably, the latter two of those victories came without Ronaldo in the squad at all.
Speaking after the Denmark match, Jesus was asked directly whether he believed the squad remained united behind him following the Ronaldo episode. His response left little doubt about where his focus lies. "I do. There's nothing that should stop the group from being with me," he told Sport TV, in comments relayed by Sapo.
The Portuguese manager acknowledged the sensitivity of the situation but was adamant that it had not fractured the dressing room. "I understand the question. The important thing is what we have to do. The things that happen don't separate the group, they haven't separated us and they won't separate us," he added.
When pressed on whether he would welcome Ronaldo back into the fold should the forward wish to return, Jesus chose instead to emphasize the quality of his side's recent performance rather than address the question directly. "A high-quality victory, with four goals, a top-level performance. It can't be overlooked, it's more important than everything that happened," he said.
He went on to stress that his attention was firmly fixed on the team's upcoming fixtures rather than on resolving the Ronaldo saga. "That's what I want to focus on. Returning to Portugal, the people will fight at the Dragao stadium," Jesus said, looking ahead to Portugal's next assignment.
That next test comes against Norway once again, with the rematch scheduled for Sunday. Portugal will be aiming to extend their winning run to four games and further cement their position at the top of their Nations League group, continuing to build momentum regardless of the off-field noise generated by Ronaldo's departure.
For now, Jesus appears content to let results do the talking. Three straight victories, including two without his most decorated player, have given the coach a strong platform to defend his selection decisions and management of the squad. Whether Ronaldo's absence becomes a longer-term arrangement or a temporary rift remains to be seen, but Jesus has made clear that Portugal's immediate priorities lie in Norway's next visit to the Dragao and maintaining their unbeaten start to this Nations League campaign.
Based on reporting from standard-football.