Cristiano Ronaldo omission in opposition to Spain ‘tactical’, says Fernando Santos

Portugal supervisor Fernando Santos defended his resolution to drop Cristiano Ronaldo from the beginning line-up for his or her Nations League opener in opposition to Spain, saying he was assured that the ahead might make a larger affect off the bench.

Ronaldo, his nation’s file goal-scorer, got here on within the 62nd minute however failed to search out the online as a late Ricardo Horta strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Portugal.

“Cristiano Ronaldo? They often ask why he is a starter. It’s the million-dollar question,” mentioned Santos after Thursday’s end result. “I understood that for this game it was better to use the players I used.”

Santos mentioned Ronaldo’s exclusion was not a mirrored image of his high quality, after the 37-year-old loved a powerful season for Manchester United, scoring 24 instances in all competitions.

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“It was a technical and tactical option for this game. It seemed to us the best solution. For the way we wanted to play and approach the game. It has nothing to do with Cristiano’s quality, that’s not even in question,” he mentioned.

“There are moments in the game when you have to think in a different way. We believed that in the second half he could come in and solve the game.”

Alvaro Morata had given Spain the lead in Seville however the hosts didn’t take their probabilities within the second half, with Jordi Alba spurning a chance within the dying minutes to grab a win.

Portugal subsequent play Switzerland on Sunday whereas Spain journey to Prague to face the Czech Republic.