Jorge Jesus, the new head coach of the Portugal national team, has addressed his decision to include Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Jesus, who took over from Roberto Martinez, is preparing for his first games in charge and has selected a group of prominent players, including the Al-Nassr captain, who retains his place despite his advancing age.
The Portuguese coach made it clear that Ronaldo’s selection was not based solely on his history. Instead, the player’s level in training and matches will be the key factor in determining his involvement with the national team going forward.
Performance Over Past Glory
Speaking at a press conference on Friday after announcing the squad, Jesus said: “If he plays, he will fulfill his role. His performance is what matters.”
He elaborated on his approach to managing Ronaldo: “The past does not count, but his entire history is taken into account. However, performance will determine, for him as for everyone, the decisions I must make in matches and training.”
Jesus continued: “Coming back to Cris, he is a player like all the others. If his level is good, he will play. If not, he won’t. That is how I deal with everyone.”
Special Status, Same Rules
The coach acknowledged that Ronaldo holds a special place due to his exceptional career but stressed that this will not give him an advantage when it comes to technical decisions within the national team.
“Does Cris have a different status? Yes. His career is different, and he has five Ballon d’Or awards. But does that affect my decisions? No, it does not affect them at all,” Jesus said.
He concluded his remarks on the Al-Nassr captain: “But is he different from the others? Yes, he is different,” referring to Ronaldo’s historical standing in Portuguese and world football, while reiterating that participation with the national team will always be linked to the player’s performance.
Familiar Faces and a Fresh Start
Jesus did not limit his comments to Ronaldo. He noted that there are 13 players in the squad with whom he has previously worked, considering his prior knowledge of several national team members as an asset at the start of his tenure, especially since he does not yet have a fully settled starting lineup.
“This helps me because I do not have a ready-made base or starting group. The national team will start playing, so within this approach, there were a number of players who were important in my decision and selection,” Jesus said.