Portugal coach Fernando Santos has insisted he has “no regrets” over benching Cristiano Ronaldo in his side’ World Cup knockout against Morocco.
Santos opted to start his captain on the bench for a second successive match, starting with Goncalo Ramos, who had netted a hat-trick in A Selecao’s 6-1 over Switzerland.
However, this time, Santos’ plan didn’t work out, as a toothless Portugal failed to find the back of the net against Morocco, who celebrated a 1-0 win thanks to Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half goal.
While Morocco created history and became the first-ever African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, Portugal and Ronaldo’s World Cup – likely his last – ended in tears.
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Santos is now facing a lot of criticism in his home country, including from Ronaldo’s family, but he defended his decision to bench the top international goal scorer in history.
“I don’t think so, no regrets,” Santos said after the match, per ESPN.
“I think this was a team which played very well against Switzerland. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary, so no regrets.
“If we take two persons that were the most upset it is Cristiano Ronaldo and myself. Of course we are upset, but that is part of the job of the coach and the player.”
