Jorge Jesus on the Ronaldo situation: 'Apologise for what?' | OneFootball

Jorge Jesus discussed the future of Cristiano Ronaldo with the national team, after Portugal's 2-1 victory over Norway, in a press conference.

The manager was asked whether Is the door was still open for 41-year-old Ronaldo to say goodbye or keep competing with the Portuguese national team after his withdrawal: "That is the question. I do not know what Cris may decide. What I had to say, I have said, but I will add that, for me, all of this was never really a case. I thought it was normal, as a coach, to have a player who is a symbol for the national team. There is nothing here that I, as a coach, must consider non-negotiable. As there was nothing special in terms of my authority, for me, Cris, in the next call-up, if he is playing for Al Nassr, will be selectable.

"If he wants to return, he will return, because, in my opinion, he cannot demand a one-year friendship in a situation that is impossible to understand. Simply because it was him, a problem was created - and perhaps rightly so, because he is a symbol - about warming up and not coming on. That happens with all players. How many warmed up today and did not come on It is always like that. Cris is different because he is a symbol, but, for me, it was not a problem. If he wants to and is playing, he will be in the next call-up."

As a follow up, Jesus was asked if a conversation would be needed before Ronaldo would be called up again: "Yes, I agree, but that does not depend on me. For there to be an agreement, two people are needed. That decision does not depend on me."

Jesus was also asked whether Ronaldo must be given a festive farewell to the national team: "I completely agree, because that was also my idea. We are talking about several things. One of the things I told Cris was that he could not finish by losing and crying at the World Cup. He had to end his time with the national team by playing, and that is why he played the first match. It happened to be at Alvalade. He was meant to play here today, but, given what happened, everything was different. Practically everything has been said already. Now, this has nothing to do with that. I am the manager, I call up who I want. I do not ask anyone whom I should call up or who should play. As a coach, there are several non-negotiable moments and, therefore, I cannot be any clearer than this."

Jesus was also asked on what what happened to cause the issue and he confirmed that the issue stemmed from Ronaldo warming up and not getting to take to the pitch.

"I take responsibility for the decision and for what happened," Jesus said about his decision not to play Ronaldo while standing by his decision. "But apologise for what? To whom? That is a lie. Apologise for what" What was there to apologise for?"

"What mattered was Portugal winning once again against one of the best national teams in Europe at the moment," Jesus went on to say, returning back to the win over Norway despite going down to 10 men late on.

"So that is what must be valued. Against Denmark we had artistry, but today we did not. We could have had it in the last 15 minutes, when Chico [Francisco Conceição] was sent off.

"Norway was broken up: some were attacking and others were defending, and we were going to score at least one more goal. In that spell, I felt Norway were more tired than we were, but with the sending-off it became complicated. Even so, the important thing was the win. It was a good victory against a good national team."