Portugals Coach Conceicao Suggests No Pressure on Players to Pass to Ronaldo

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo faced criticism after his performance in their first match of the FIFA World Cup. The team drew 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sparking questions about Ronaldo’s role.

Francisco Conceicao, Portugal’s winger, stated that his teammates did not feel pressure to pass the ball to Ronaldo if other players were in better attacking positions. “We don’t feel the need to pass him the ball,” Conceicao said. “I pass it to whoever I think is in the best position and unmarked.”

Conceicao described Ronaldo as “just another member of the squad”, emphasizing that each individual plays a crucial role for the collective success. He also praised Ronaldo’s leadership and goal-scoring abilities, noting that he is an example of dedication and hunger at 41 years old.

Ronaldo was a peripheral figure in the match, with only 25 touches during the game. In contrast, Argentina’s Lionel Messi had a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick in their previous match.

Portugal will face Uzbekistan in their next Group K match on Tuesday, aiming to secure three points and improve their campaign. Conceicao acknowledged that the team did not meet expectations, stating, “No one takes it harder than we do. We felt firsthand that we didn’t do our job in the best possible way.”

Former France striker Thierry Henry criticized Ronaldo for being selfish, while opposition midfielder Ngalayel Mukau expressed respect for the player despite acknowledging his decline in performance. Coach Roberto Martinez has also faced criticism, with some pundits accusing him of being afraid to drop or substitute Ronaldo.

The team will look to bounce back from their disappointing draw and demonstrate their quality in their next match.

Source: Al Jazeera