Cristiano Ronaldo may no longer play every game as he once did, according to Portugal’s head coach Jorge Jesus, who emphasised that the forward’s physical state will influence whether he starts against Norway.
Jesus said that Ronaldo’s selection for the match can be influenced by his dedication and performance in training.
Ronaldo and the coach have come to an agreement over the player’s playing time, the coach continued.
“I have already discussed this with him,” Jesus said to Ojogo. Regardless of our inclinations, Cris is not Joao Neves, who is 20 years old and able to play consecutive games every three days.
He played 65 minutes, and I will evaluate his condition to decide whether he starts or comes off the bench. He is one of the players whose training performance will offer insightful information, but we must take all variables into account.
In their first Group Four match in the UEFA Nations League A, Portugal defeated Wales 1-0 thanks to a goal by Ronaldo.
The forward had a quiet performance, though, as his goal was disallowed owing to offside.
In the 67th minute, Jesus substituted Goncalo Ramos for him; the coach later provided an explanation for this choice in a post-match interview.
When Portugal takes on Norway, who just defeated Denmark and Brazil, Ronaldo will be keen to prove himself.
On Sunday, September 27, Norway and Portugal will play at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.