After the Portuguese national team lost to Morocco, on Saturday, the girlfriend of national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Georgina Rodriguez, criticized coach Fernando Santos, and sent him a harsh message through her accounts on Instagram and Twitter.
And that following Ronaldo, the historic top scorer for Portugal, sat as a substitute during the last two matches once morest Morocco in the quarter-finals, and Switzerland in the round of 16 last Tuesday.
Rodriguez wrote, addressing Ronaldo, whose photo was published: “Today, the decisions of your friend and coach were bad, that friend regarding whom you said many words of admiration and respect.” And she continued: “When I entered the stadium, I saw how everything changed, but it was too late.”
Georgina blamed the coach, and wrote: “You cannot underestimate the best player in the world and your most powerful weapon.” She continued: “We did not lose, we learned, Cristiano, we love you.”
Georgina followed her messages to the coach on Twitter, saying: “I don’t understand why this happened, they don’t do it for beginners. Have they forgotten what Ronaldo did for the team?”
I don’t understand why they don’t do it for beginners. Have they really forgotten what he did for the team? Everyone shouts a name in the stadium. They know that you have nothing to prove and that your place is in the field. You are the best in the world and the fans and I know it ❤️???????? pic.twitter.com/r0sl167lIm
— Georgina Rodriguez (@__georginagio) December 10, 2022
For his part, coach Santos had confirmed that he was not changing his decision to sit Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench even following the exit from the quarter-finals of the World Cup following losing 1-0 to Morocco on Saturday.
Ronaldo, who participated early in the second half without leaving a mark once morest Morocco, collapsed on the bench on Saturday following the final whistle, and cried heartily while the rest of his teammates tried to support him and stand next to him.
Santos said in a press conference on Saturday, “I do not feel regret regarding Ronaldo sitting as an alternative. I was not going to change anything. When it comes to the team, it is not possible to think regarding my heart,” according to Archyde.com.
He continued, “I relied on the team that performed well once morest Switzerland, and there was no reason for me to change once morest Morocco.”
And the Portugal coach continued, “The strategic decision I made was one of the most difficult decisions, but I cannot think with my heart, and I must think with my mind.”
He pointed out, “It is no longer the case that Ronaldo is not a great player. It is not regarding that at all.”
Immediately following the announcement of the referee of the quarter-final match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which brought together the Moroccan national team, which snatched the qualifying card for the semi-finals at the expense of Portugal, the star of the team, “Don” Ronaldo, fell to the ground crying from the bitterness of exclusion.
And Ronaldo, who was not included in the starting line-up, made attempts to adjust the result in favor of his team, which was lagging behind the “Atlas Lions” due to the goal of Youssef Al-Nusairi, who was shaken by Al-Thumama Stadium, but he did not succeed in front of the solidity of Morocco’s defense and its goalkeeper, Bono, who was a stronghold once morest the attacks of Portugal in full. his stars.
The Moroccan national team succeeded in writing a new page in the history of the FIFA World Cup, on Saturday, following qualifying for the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time in the history of its participation, following defeating Portugal with a clean goal in the World Cup in Qatar, to also become the first African and Arab team to reach this stage.
The Portuguese Football Association denied media reports regarding Ronaldo’s threat to leave the national team camp during the World Cup following coach Fernando Santos decided not to start him once morest Switzerland in the round of sixteen.
“The Portuguese Football Federation makes it clear that Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the national team, has not threatened to leave the national team at any time,” the FFP said in a statement.