The elimination cost Santos his job, and his decisions also took a toll on his relationship with Ronaldo. In an interview with Portuguese newspaper ABOLA, the 69-year-old manager revealed they haven’t spoken since the World Cup.

“We don’t talk anymore. I don’t know what the day was… We haven’t spoken since I came from Qatar,” Santos said, but he clarified that it has nothing to do with the game of Switzerland. Besides, the manager hopes that Ronaldo can forgive him.

“I believe that one day we will meet, we will look at each other and think: ‘We have always had this relationship’. There’s no hurt on my part. I realize that at the time he was hurt, and I realize that maybe he is still hurt. But the relationship we had is not just any relationship,” he said.

The 69-year-old says he always tells his players he always separates the athlete from the man, which is why he expects to make amends with Ronaldo at some point. “My relationship with Cristiano hasn’t changed at all. I hope that one day the current situation will change. If it doesn’t happen, be patient. I’m sad, but that’s it.”

Fernando Santos explains why Ronaldo was benched at the World Cup

Apart from giving insight into the status of his relationship with Ronaldo, Santos reflected on his decision to bench him when it mattered the most in Qatar. The veteran striker was still the team’s face, so many were shocked not to see him in Portugal’s starting eleven.

“I made a decision that was strategic in Qatar,“ Santos explained. “You need to understand a little. I just said that he is the best in the world. And it is. But there was a moment in his career that was very difficult.“

Santos then recalled everything that happened to the 5x Ballon d’Or winner in the months prior to the World Cup. Apart from dropping down the pecking order at Manchester United after Erik ten Hag took over, he suffered a familiar tragedy with the loss of one of two twin children. “That moment moved him a lot and then it’s the sports part. Cristiano didn’t do pre-season. He was two months without training. Then he returns to Manchester United, but is practically not used.”

In Santos eyes’, Cristiano was still in his best physical condition. So that wasn’t the reason he lost his place in the lineup. But the forward’s rythm during games didn’t convince the coach.

“We tried, during those games before the World Cup, and then in the first games of the World Cup itself, for him to enter the rhythms of the game, which was what he was missing. If he was going to do a sprint with some colleague, or were to do an endurance test, he might win. It has nothing to do with it, it was a strategic issue. I felt during the first games that strategically for Portugal it was better. And for him it could also be better. The thought was like this: ‘I want to change this a little, I need someone with more of this kind of characteristics.’ But he was still very important,” Santos said.

Santos suggests Ronaldo ‘misunderstood’ why he was benched

Santos said this wasn’t the first time he had to deal with this kind of situation, in which he had to explain a veteran star he would not start. He says this hasn’t created problems before, but with Ronaldo it was a bit different.

“Now, it is true that on the day of the game, in the morning, when I went to explain to him that he was not going to play and why he was not going to play, he misunderstood. If I notice his reaction? I get it! I have already mentioned that that period was of great anxiety for him, I realize the reaction because for him he is a great friend who leaves him out. But I couldn’t guide myself around, you know? I’m still the same with him. For my part, the relationship is the same and he continues to be like a son or a younger brother to me,” Santos added.

It’s safe to say Qatar 2022 is not a pleasant memory for Ronaldo. Since it may have been his last World Cup, his expectation was to have a much different campaign. Not only did he suffer a painful elimination with Portugal, but Cristiano didn’t even get the playing time he desired.

Since he joined Al-Nassr this summer,the Saudi Arabian club has made more headlines than ever before. Besides, last week many people tuned in to a club friendly in Riyadh just to see Ronaldo against Lionel Messi once again.

His legacy is therefore unquestionable, though it’s true that a changing of guard is already happening. Now it’s the turn for other strikers to take the limelight, and Fernando Santos will have the luck to coach Robert Lewandowski after working with Ronaldo for so many years.

Former Ronaldo’s coach at Portugal to take charge of Lewandowski’s Poland

According to Fabrizio Romano, Fernando Santos has reached an agreement to become the new head coach of Poland. The 68-year-old will take over forCzesław Michniewicz, who led the team to the round of 16 at Qatar 2022.

Santos spent the last eight years at the helm of Portugal, guiding the country to their first ever international title at the Euro 2016 before delivering another trophy at the UEFA Nations League.

Though Ronaldo was an important part of his project, Santos ended up benching the veteran star in the most crucial stages of the last FIFA World Cup—including the quarterfinal loss to Morocco. After many years with CR7, Santos will now get to work with Lewandowski.

However, the biggest goal for Cristiano Ronaldo definitely wasto hoist the only trophy he’s been missing. Portugalfailed after being beaten byMoroccoin the biggest surprise of the quarterfinals in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t start for Portugal in the knockout stages of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. During the Round of 16 against Switzerland,and the quarterfinals facing Morocco, the superstar came in the second half as a substitute. Considering this scenario, Cristiano’s family feels one name betrayed him: coach Fernando Santos.

What did Cristiano Ronaldo’s sisters said about Fernando Santos?

Cristiano Ronaldo made his appearance in the game against Morocco on minute 51′ when his team was already losing. It was the first of many desperate efforts by coach Fernando Santos to revert the situation in the quarterfinals at Al Thumama Stadium.

However, though Cristiano Ronaldo was the most dangerous player for Portugal in the second half, it wasn’t enough. So, after 50 minutes waisted with Cristiano on the bench, his sisters went full-attack mode on Fernando Santos after the loss.

“Waiting for the list of the responsibles for this defeat. The expert commentators from Portugal must be worried. Maybe there go their jobs…of bad saying”, said Katia Aveiro in an Instagram story.

Elma, the other sister of Cristiano Ronaldo, reposted many Instagram stories with different messages against Fernando Santos, the media and some players. “They killed a man. They killed a team. They killed a nation”, “No one deserves your tears”, “Cristiano, you’ll always be the best in the Portuguese hearts”.

The Portuguese national team faces Switzerland in the Round of 16, aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in many years.Ronaldo, who is playing in his fifth World Cup, was surprisingly benched for the game.

Not only did the 37-year-old score in the group debut, but he doesn’t seem to have any injury either. Therefore, his absence in the starting lineup today will probably take many by surprise.

Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not starting against Switzerland today

Portugal coachFernandoSantossaid Cristiano Ronaldo is not starting against Switzerland due to a “strategic” decision. Though he admitted a few days ago that he didn’t like Ronaldo’s attitude after being subbed off against South Korea, he said that’s not the reason Ronaldo is on the bench.

“It’s a strategic option, we’ve been preparing for a few days,” Santos said, via Portuguese outlet B24. “It is not connected [to the words in the game against South Korea], that matter is closed. He is an exemplary professional and if he has to enter the game, he will definitely help Portugal.”

Will Portugal manage to go far in the tournament with Ronaldo on the bench?Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

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