‘Cristiano Ronaldo will never be a problem for Portugal’: new coach Jorge Jesus calls ‘symbol of Portuguese football’ | Football news


Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7) (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Portugal have appointed experienced coach Jorge Jesus as their new national team manager after their disappointing FIFA World Cup The campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16. The 71-year-old replaces Roberto Martinez, who parted ways with the Portuguese Football Federation just two days before the announcement. Jesus has previously managed major Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, and more recently coached Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nasr.After his appointment, Jesus dismissed suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo could become a problem for the national team despite the growing debate about the role of the veteran after the World Cup.“Cristiano will never be a problem for the national team, nor for me,” he said.He also praised the Portugal captain, calling him one of the country’s greatest football figures. He added: “Cris is a symbol of Portuguese football. He wants to continue at Al Nassr and finish his career at Al Nassr. It is easy to work with Cristiano.”Portugal confirmed Jesus’ appointment on social media, posting, “A new journey begins today. Welcome to the National Team, Mister Jorge Jesus.”The coaching change follows Portugal’s World Cup campaign, which has raised questions about Ronaldo’s place in the team. Many fans and pundits criticized the previous management for continuing to play the 41-year-old striker in a central role and build the team’s attack around him despite the first exit. Jesus is now tasked with the task of rebuilding Portugal and preparing the team for future international competitions while managing the final phase of Ronaldo’s international career.



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