ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.12.07 07:23
Portugal national team coach Fernando Santos has said he was offended by Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior when he was substituted in the match against South Korea.
“I really didn’t like it,” Santos said at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday when asked about Ronaldo’s actions, AFP and Associated Press reported.
Santos mentioned that Ronaldo was replaced by Andre Silva in the 21st minute of the second half of the third group league match against South Korea held on the 3rd. In today’s match, Ronaldo was so weak that some joked, “Isn’t he a Korean player?” Korea’s equalizing goal was also made when the ball hit Ronaldo’s back and flowed in front of Kim Young-kwon. For this reason, the irony that Ronaldo assisted Kim Yong-gwon’s goal came out.
Ronaldo was replaced and left the ground, suddenly putting his finger on his lips and making a gesture telling him to be quiet.
At that time, the Portuguese media assumed that Ronaldo was dissatisfied with Santos, but Ronaldo explained that it was the behavior of Jo Kyu-sung, who had a quarrel. Ronaldo said, “When I was substituted, a Korean player told me to leave early and I told him to be quiet. He has no right to say that. If I didn’t leave early, the referee would It is an issue that needs to be addressed,” he said. In fact, Cho said that he had an argument with Ronaldo.
Santos defended Ronaldo in his post-match press conference. “(Ronaldo) looked sick (during the match) because of the relationship with the Korean player,” Santos said.
However, when I was asked about this situation again on the 5th, I got a different answer.
Santos said, “I have two answers. The first answer is the same as what I said at the press conference at the time. There was nothing in particular on the ground.”
He continued, “But the second reply was that I didn’t like the scene. I didn’t like it at all. But that’s a closed issue. It’s been resolved internally.” It is analyzed that he decided that appropriate control over Ronaldo’s actions was necessary.
Portugal will play Switzerland in the round of 16 at 4:00 am on the 7th.
The public opinion of homegrown fans against Ronaldo is also not favorable. The Portuguese sports media “Abola” reported on the 4th that 70% of its subscribers responded negatively to the question, “Do you think Ronaldo should continue to play in the starting lineup?”
Santos said, “I don’t read these kinds of materials,” but he said, “It’s not that I don’t respect these opinions. will concentrate on,” he said.