Portugal manager Jorge Jesus is standing firm amid a rift with Cristiano Ronaldo that saw the superstar forward leave the national team camp.
Ronaldo, 41, landed in Madrid in the early hours of Thursday morning after flying from Copenhagen, where Portugal faced Denmark on Thursday, on his private jet. He had been seen leaving the Parken Stadium in the Danish capital on Wednesday after missing a third consecutive training session.
Ronaldo later confirmed in a statement on Instagram that he had left the team's camp because of comments made by Jesus in his press conference.
The Portugal boss said the captain would not start the Denmark clash, just days after sitting on the bench for the entirety of the 2-1 win in Norway, but insisted there was no issue between the two.
Jesus, meanwhile, who took over from Roberto Martinez after the World Cup, oversaw a 4-2 win for his side on Thursday night, and insisted he remains in control of the team – with full faith from the players.
'I don't have a group in my hand. I have a group that believes in the coach's ideas,' he said. 'They believe in my ideas and, because they have a lot of individual quality, things become easier.
'If that's having a group in my hand, then I do, because they go hand in hand with me and my ideas.'
Portugal manager Jorge Jesus insists he is in control of his players and has a 'clear conscience' amid his feud with Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo left the Portugal camp after taking issues with words in his manager's press conference before they faced Denmark
Reports in Portugal claim Ronaldo could be suspended from playing for his country for between one and six months if he is found to have 'abandoned' the team.
The Portuguese Football Federation's disciplinary code states: 'Any player who, having been regularly called up, unjustifiably abandons or fails to appear for training, a match, or any activity of the national teams or related to the sporting representation of the FPF or Portugal, will be sanctioned with a suspension of one to six months.'
Ronaldo said: 'After the national team coach's press conference, and following a conversation with the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, I have decided to leave the national team training camp.
'In due time, I will tell all Portuguese people the truth about the reasons that led to my departure from the national team, to which I have always dedicated myself.
'Now is the time to wish good luck to Portugal and to all my teammates.'
Jesus, though, who also managed Ronaldo at Al-Nassr insists his conscience is clean.
'It's not difficult for me to focus,' he added. 'You know what's difficult for me? It's not understanding what's going on inside. It's not knowing how to train my players. That's what's difficult for me. The rest… zero.
'What's important is what we have to do. The things that happen don't separate the group, they haven't separated us and they won't separate us.'
One group of fans showed support for Jesus in the stands as Portugal beat the Danes 4-2
The support, however, was split, with some making it clear they were siding with Ronaldo
Jesus received support in the stands from some of Portugal's fans, with one fan group each wearing a shirt spelling out: 'Love u Jesus'. Other fans held up banners with Ronaldo's face and name on.
Speaking before the Denmark game, Jesus insisted he had a 'completely' clear conscience amid the Ronaldo saga. 'It was a frantic few hours because we had two games,' he added.
'Now we have another one… Besides, I've been in football for many years and I know I didn't do anything to prevent the situation from continuing as before.'
Footage published by A Bola showed Jesus and Proenca being booed by a small group of fans who had gathered outside the team's hotel in Copenhagen before the team made the short journey to Parken Stadium.
Ronaldo held talks with Jesus and Proenca on Wednesday morning, a meeting initially described as amicable. But the rift between Ronaldo and his manager appeared to deepen after Jesus's press conference.
Jesus admitted Ronaldo had been 'angry' with him, with footage showing the captain walking off down the tunnel after sitting out the victory in Norway.
Jesus said: 'There was no incident whatsoever. Any player – and I was a player myself – when you spend 20 or 30 minutes warming up and then don't get on, no-one is happy about that.
'Afterwards, as coach, I decided not to bring him on. It's nothing to make a fuss about.'
Jesus also suggested Goncalo Ramos would keep his place in the side ahead of Ronaldo for the Denmark match. 'If I need (Ronaldo), he'll come on,' he said. 'If I don't need him, he won't.'
Jesus had originally planned to bring on the veteran striker for a 30-minute cameo but then decided to leave him on the bench, which has seemingly sparked the feud.
Source: Sport
