Portugal: Jorge Jesus brushes aside Cristiano Ronaldo

01.10.26 FT UEFA Nations League A

Denmark

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Portugal

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Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal beat Denmark (4-2) on Thursday evening in the Nations League. Portugal manager Jorge Jesus nevertheless had a message to deliver regarding Cristiano Ronaldo.

In recent days, Portugal has been experiencing a crisis. But Jorge Jesus seems ready to turn the page. "The events that are taking place do not divide the group; they have not divided us and they will not divide us. (...) I have a group that believes in the coach's ideas. The players believe in my ideas and, thanks to their many individual qualities, things become easier," said the coach on Thursday evening.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future with Portugal is now the subject of questions following his departure from the national-team camp and his tensions with Jorge Jesus, Thierry Henry refuses to reduce the Al Nassr striker's immense international career to this episode. "Judge an entire career on that? Never. When I think of Ronaldo, I will not think of that, never ever!" Henry declared. "What he represents for football is extraordinary. (...) What I like to highlight about Ronaldo is the way he is, how he lives football, his obsession with the game, records and being the best. (...) We experienced extraordinary things with him," he said on RMC's Rothen s'enflamme.

Also read: Real Madrid: Thierry Henry defends Kylian Mbappé against criticism

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

Related teams and leagues

Denmark

Portugal

UEFA Nations League A