Defiant Portugal boss Fernando Santos has NO REGRETS over dropping Cristiano Ronaldo for World Cup defeat vs Morocco
PORTUGAL boss Fernando Santos has declared he has NO REGRETS over not starting Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarter-final defeat to Morocco.
Ronaldo and Co saw their World Cup dreams crash and burn as Morocco earned a 1-0 win to progress into the semi-final.
But Santos struck a defiant tone and doubled down on his decision to not start Ronaldo.
Speaking after the game, he said: “I do not regret (leaving Ronaldo on the bench).
“It wouldn’t change anything, in terms of the team I can’t be thinking with my heart.
“I used the team that played really well against Switzerland and there was no reason to change it (against Morocco).
“The strategic decision that I had to make was one of the hardest, but I can’t think with my heart, I have to think with my head.
“It’s not that Ronaldo is no longer a great player, that has nothing to do with it.”
The 37-year-old’s Wag Georgina Rodriguez slammed the decision by Santos.
Taking to social media she raged: “Today your friend and coach made a bad decision. That friend for whom you have so many words of admiration and respect.
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“The same as when you got into the game, he saw how everything changed, but it was too late.
The best player in the world, his most powerful weapon, cannot be underestimated.
“You can’t stand up for someone who doesn’t deserve it either. Life gives us lessons.
“Today we have not lost, we have learned.”
Ronaldo, who also sat on the bench in the 6-1 drubbing of Switzerland, came on shortly after half-time to try and force an equaliser.
However, he was unable to affect such a change and was pictured crying as he went down the tunnel after the game.
Ronaldo is his nations all-time leading goalscorer with 118 goals in 196 games.
But with his nation’s exit in what could be his final World Cup, he has failed to score in any of his eight knockout games at the tournament.
Now Morocco will face France after they beat England 2-1 in the other quarter-final.