Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has said Cristiano Ronaldo may no longer feature in every match as he previously did, stressing that the forward’s physical condition will determine whether he starts against Norway.
Jesus also said Ronaldo’s commitment and performance in training sessions could influence his selection for the encounter.
The coach added that he and Ronaldo have reached an understanding over the player’s playing time.
Speaking to Ojogo, Jesus said, “I have already discussed this with him. He played 65 minutes, and I will assess his condition to determine if he starts or comes off the bench, because regardless of our preferences, Cris is not Joao Neves, who is 20 years old and capable of playing consecutive matches every three days. We must consider all factors, but he is among the players whose training performance will provide valuable insight.”
Ronaldo started Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Wales in their opening fixture of Group Four in the UEFA Nations League A.
However, the forward had a subdued outing, while his goal was ruled out for offside.
Jesus subsequently replaced him with Goncalo Ramos in the 67th minute, a decision the coach later explained during a post-match interview.
Ronaldo will be eager to prove himself when Portugal face Norway, who have recently recorded victories against Denmark and Brazil.
The match between Norway and Portugal is scheduled to take place at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on Sunday, September 27.
UNL: Ronaldo may no longer start every Portugal match – Jesus