In a wide-ranging interview with “Abora,” Fernando Santosformer coach Portugalspoke about the reasons that led to his exclusion from the XI cristiano ronaldo in the game Qatar World Cup Against Switzerland and Morocco. The head coach gave his reasons, which had to do with two aspects of the forward.
“We have not spoken since I came here from Qatar. We have a very close relationship both sportingly and personally. What happened has nothing to do with it. It was a technical decision. In the second half of 2022, he It was a terrible six months mentally. And physically. It all started with a tragedy that happened to him and his family that none of us wanted to go through (the death of one of his two twin sons). That moment affected him It’s big, and then there’s the sporting part. Cristiano didn’t play pre-season, missed two months of training. I wasn’t in game rhythm,” he explained.
He added: “If it had happened to me today I would have done the same thing. I think strategically it was the best decision. It was not an easy decision but the team comes first.” I could have come on as a substitute against Switzerland but the game was going so well that there was no point in changing for the next game.” “The morning of the game when I went to explain to him that I wasn’t going to play and why I He misunderstood me when I wasn’t going to play. I understand his reaction. As far as I’m concerned, the relationship between us is the same and he’s still like a son or a brother to me.”
Fernando Santos made it clear, “The day the phone rang, he always knew I was here. That’s guaranteed. I know it hurts, I know it hurts, but that’s life.” “I don’t regret it. .I know I was hurt at the time, and I realize that maybe I’m still hurt. But our relationship was more than just any relationship.”
Also read