Jorge Jesus: Ronaldo May Again Start on Bench vs Denmark

Jorge Jesus said Cristiano Ronaldo could again start on the bench when Portugal face Denmark, a day after leaving the 41-year-old out entirely against Norway.

"You can ask questions about any player. As for Ronaldo, one question is not enough and three is too many. I will allow only two questions about Ronaldo, because I am not here because of him but because of the match against Denmark. I told Cristiano that he would not play against Norway or against Denmark. Because I have worked with him for a whole year. It is not as if I took charge of the national team and only just met him. The game itself will show what I do. Perhaps I will need Ronaldo in the last minutes. The last match showed the opposite, and I did not bring him on. I told Cristiano that if he was needed, he would play 20 or 30 minutes, and he agreed. I sent him to warm up after 45 minutes. Maybe I should have done that 15 minutes later. I did not know what would happen next — it all depends on the game. Today we have training. If everything goes well, Ramos will start," Jesus said at a press conference.

Ronaldo, Portugal's centre-forward, spent all 90 minutes on the bench against Norway and was visibly unhappy at not being brought on. He has scored 4 goals for Portugal since returning to the squad in November 2022. Gonçalo Ramos, tipped to start again against Denmark, has 5 in the same period; both trail João Félix, who has 2, in a group Portugal currently lead from second place with 5 points from 3 matches.

Denmark, third in their Nations League group with 3 points from 2 matches, host Portugal at Parken Stadium on 1 October at 21:45 Moscow time.

Jesus made clear the decision on Ronaldo would not be settled in advance. "Who knows? If Ronaldo is needed, he will play. If not, he won't," he said, repeating the point made after Norway — that the forward's involvement will depend on how the match unfolds rather than on his standing in the squad.