ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version07.12.2022 07:23
Portugal national team manager Fernando Santos said he was offended by Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior when he was substituted in the match against South Korea.
“I really didn’t like him,” Santos said at a news conference in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday when asked about Ronaldo’s actions, AFP and the Associated Press reported.
Santos said that Ronaldo was replaced by Andre Silva in the 21st minute of the second half of the third group championship match against South Korea, played on the 3rd. In today’s match, Ronaldo was so weak that some joked: “ Isn’t he a Korean player?” Korea’s equalizing goal was also achieved when the ball hit Ronaldo’s back and passed in front of Kim Young-kwon. Hence the irony that Ronaldo assisted Kim Yong-gwon’s goal.
Ronaldo was substituted and left the ground, suddenly putting a finger to his lips and gesturing for him to shut up.
At the time, Portuguese media assumed that Ronaldo was dissatisfied with Santos, but Ronaldo explained that it was the behavior of Jo Kyu-sung, who had quarreled. Ronaldo said: “When I was substituted, a Korean player told me to leave early and I told him to shut up. He has no right to say that. If I didn’t leave early, the referee would. It’s a issue that needs to be addressed,” he said. In fact, Cho said he had fallen out with Ronaldo.
Santos defended Ronaldo in his post-match press conference. “(Ronaldo) looked ill (during the match) because of the relationship with the Korean player,” Santos said.
However, when asked about this situation again on the 5th, I received a different response.
Santos said: “I have two answers. The first answer is the same one I said at the press conference at the time. There was nothing particular on the pitch.”
He continued, “But the second answer was that I didn’t like the scene. I didn’t like it at all. But that’s a closed matter. It’s been resolved internally.” It is analyzed that he decided that proper scrutiny over Ronaldo’s actions was needed.
Portugal will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on the 7th at 4:00.
Even the public opinion of our fans towards Ronaldo is not favorable. Portuguese sports media “Abola” reported 4 that 70% of its subscribers answered the question negatively: “Do you think Ronaldo should continue to play in the starting lineup?”
Santos said, “I don’t read this kind of material,” but said, “It’s not that I don’t respect these opinions. I’ll focus on,” he said.
