Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from Portugal’s friendlies against Mexico and the USMNT has not only left fans disappointed at not being able to see him in action, but has also given us another controversial statement from José Mourinho.
Following the 0-0 draw at Estadio Azteca (Banorte) and ahead of the match against Mauricio Pochettino’s side, the current Benfica coach did not hesitate to highlight the impact of the 41-year-old Portuguese star on the team.
Mourinho takes a swipe at Portugal and praises CR7
Both Portugal and Mexico had moments of brilliance during the match, but neither could capitalize on these opportunities to secure the victory.
The match was a draw in itself, as the possible presence of CR7 was already drawing attention. Despite his absence due to a hamstring injury, the match still featured several stars such as Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, and Vitinha, and it also marked the reopening of the legendary Azteca Stadium, now called Banorte Stadium.
Despite this, the match ended scoreless, leaving a strange feeling that made Mexico look good against the 5th-ranked team in the FIFA rankings while they themselves are in 15th place. However, the crowd was not satisfied with the result and made their displeasure known through boos. And Mourinho was not happy either.
After the match, the 63-year-old coach did not sugarcoat the situation and did not hesitate to express his dissatisfaction with Portugal’s tactical and on-field performance. He also highlighted the fundamental role of CR7, whose absence exposed the team’s difficulty in maintaining the same competitive level without its star player:
“Take Cristiano Ronaldo out of the picture and Portugal look like any run-of-the-mill team,” he stated bluntly. “People keep asking us not to call him up. Well, he didn’t play today and you saw the result. No threat, no fear from the opposition. Just a team being put under pressure by Mexico,” he declared (Via GOAL).
“When Ronaldo is on the pitch, the opposition think twice. Without him, they don’t think at all,” Mourinho added.
The truth is that Mourinho’s words are no accident and stem from his experience coaching Cristiano. During their three seasons together, they transformed Real Madrid into a competitive machine. Together they won a La Liga title (the 100-point season), a Copa del Rey, and a Spanish Super Cup. Furthermore, under Mourinho’s leadership, Cristiano achieved stratospheric scoring numbers, netting 120 goals in just 106 matches.
Since his debut with Portugal in 2003, “Bicho” has become an iconic figure on the team, not only for his scoring ability but also for his leadership and influence in decisive moments, including his role as captain. However, the team’s reliance on CR7 could lead to structural problems in the future, once he decides to hang up his cleats.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is expected to return to the field on April 3 in Al Nassr’s match against Al-Najma SC in the Saudi Pro League, and although he will miss the match against the USMNT, set for the 31st at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 PM ET, Roberto Martínez and Portugal hope to have him available for their sixth World Cup, where they will attempt to bring home the trophy for the first time.
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