Portugal head coach Fernando Santos has “no regrets” over his decision to not start Cristiano Ronaldo in Saturday’s 1-0 World Cup quarter-final loss to Morocco.
Ronaldo was benched for the second straight game, but Santos turned to him in the 51st minute.
The free agent was unable to find an equaliser for his side, despite a good late chance where Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou denied him.
“No, I don’t think so. I have no regrets, no regrets,” Santos told reporters.
“This was a team that played very well against Switzerland.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, he came in when we thought it was necessary. No, I have no regret.”
Portugal had routed Switzerland 6-1 only a few days earlier, with Goncalo Ramos netting a hat-trick in Ronaldo’s place.
Ronaldo’s status has been a hot topic over the past month following his explosive interview which led to his contract being terminated at Manchester United.
The 37-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner was also benched by Santos for his reaction to being substituted against South Korea in the side’s final group game.
Santos insisted that the furore and criticism that came with that didn’t impact Ronaldo or the side’s performance.
“I do not think that the criticism he faced had any impact on the match,” Santos said.
“We have always been a team that is very united. If we take two people that were the most upset about the game, perhaps it was Cristiano and myself.
“We are upset of course, it affects us, but it’s part of the game as a coach and a player.”
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