Jorge Jesus on fire with the CR7 case: “I don’t apologize to anyone”

Jorge Jesus fulfilled the promised and took advantage, this Sunday, of the press conference that followed the triumph conquered over Norway, by 2-1, in the Dragon Stadium (which was worth the clearance for the final quarters of the League of Nations), to ‘put the points in the is’ regarding the controversial abandonment of Cristiano Ronaldo to the main selection of Portugal.

“ For me, at first, it was never an affair. It was something I thought was normal as a coach. Having a player with the symbol that he is for the country and for the selection... There are principles as coach that are non-negotiable, but since there was nothing special in terms of what is my authority, for me, Cris at the next call will be, if you are playing at Al Nassr, a convocable player, if he wants to return to the selection ", said.

“ You cannot charge, in my opinion, a one-year friendship in a situation you cannot understand. Just because he did it, he created himself – and probably because it's a symbol – this whole problem of getting in, warming up, not getting in... How many of you got warmed up today and didn't come in? Is there a problem? Nope. Cris is different, it's the symbol. But it is a problem”, he continued.

“ For me, it wasn't a problem. If Cris wants to play Al Nassr, he'll be in. We spoke before this call and we can talk before the next one, but it is Cris who will decide (...). Don't go through me. To have an agreement with two people, it is necessary for both people to talk and wake up ", completed.

Still, the national selector left a certainty: “I don’t apologize to anyone. The problem that created all this was that the player was warming up. I put the burden on the decision and what happened. But apologize for what? Who? That's a lie. Sorry about what? What was the theme to apologize?”.

“I told Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘Playing or not, I need you’

Jorge Jesus also took advantage of the decision to exalt the legacy of Cristiano Ronaldo, in the team of quinas and not only: “I also shared, over a year everything, what is the symbol and brand that is the player Cristiano, especially for children. It's a world reference. That’s why, after the game, he said Cris just doesn’t go back to the selection if he doesn’t want to.”.

“The theme between me and him was hasty. There were a lot of people who got into the case that made this look like a problem, that had no problem. A coach putting a player – and he is different, with status – to warm up and not to enter gave this problem. Do you think it is reason for the symbol that Cris is, to end up like this, in one way to the other?”, he said.

“ I want him to be. He knows it's gonna end, this doesn't last forever, but I'd like him to end up in the selection as he wants. He'll decide. That's how we talked. At the first call, I said to him, ‘I need you. Playing or not playing, I need you’. And now it is the same”, he concluded.