Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Santos have come a long way.
The duo had known each other since Ronaldo’s time at Sporting and recently worked together at the World Cup. Since then, Santos has taken charge of the Poland National Team. In his recent interview, Santos has opened up on his decision to leave the Portuguese captain on the bench in the knockout stages. Despite the backlash from the fans and media alike, the former Portugal national team coach is not backing out on the controversial decision.
How long have you not spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo?
Fernando Santos:“That's something else... [pause] ... We don't talk anymore... I don't know what the day was... We haven't spoken since I came from Qatar.”
Haven't you spoken since the eve of the game with Switzerland?
Fernando Santos:“No, this has nothing to do with the game of Switzerland. I had a very strong relationship with Cristiano. Guys. In addition to the professional relationship. We met at Sporting when he was 19 years old, and that relationship was reinforced from the moment we met in the national team. We always got along very well. The expression is a little strong, but almost as a father and son, or younger brother and older brother. We had a very close, very strong relationship, both professional and personal. And, therefore, one thing had nothing to do with another.
I made a decision that was strategic in Qatar. You need to understand a little. I just said that he is the best in the world. And it is. But there was a moment in his career that was very difficult. In the second half of 2022 he has six months that are terrible. Even in the emotional aspect. It begins right in that unhappiness that befell his house and his family, which none of us will want to go through [death of one of two twin children]. That moment moved him a lot and then it's the sports part. Cristiano didn't do pre-season. He was two months without training. Then Cristiano returns to Manchester United, but is practically not used.
If you ask me if Cristiano physically, and individually, was on top, I'll tell you he was. It was because he will always be there. No one takes better care of the body, and its performance, like him... If we were to do tests, individually, he would be at the top. We have no doubts about that. I don't have it. You know?, there were a lot of people who thought he shouldn't play and who criticized me for it, but I know him better than anyone. Anyway, in terms of the pace of the game it was his worst moment. He had no rhythms. We tried, during those games before the World Cup, and then in the first games of the World Cup itself, for him to enter the rhythms of the game, which was what he was missing.
The rest didn't lack anything. If he was going to do a sprint with some colleague, or were to do an endurance test, he might win. It has nothing to do with it, it was a strategic issue. I felt during the first games that strategically for Portugal it was better. And for him it could also be better. The thought was like this: 'I want to change this a little, I need someone with more of this kind of characteristics.' But he was still very important.”
If it were today...?
Fernando Santos:“I made the same decision! It was a strategic decision. First of all, I have to think about the team. I thought strategically was the best decision. Me and my technical team, not least because as you will understand we discussed this subject, it was not a light decision. Even for the personal issue, friendship and others, because he had a great weight. It's true. But I had a bigger strategic decision, I thought it was better. It doesn't mean that Cristiano wouldn't enter, not least because he would enter, and could play at first in the next game. But the game went so well, so well with Switzerland that in the following game it made no sense to change.
I only exchanged one piece, William for Ruben Neves. But always convinced that, at any moment, Cristiano would go there and if necessary he would solve the game. My trust in him was the same. All of us who were there thought we were going to be World Champions, you know? My conviction, and that of the players, was the same as in 2016. But that's it, it didn't happen. If we had won Morocco, and before the adversary that followed [France], maybe Cristiano was a starter.
Did his departure from the team have nothing to do with the game against Korea?
Nothing! Zero! Forget it. I've had many cases like this and I've never had problems with anyone. Do you think that over 35 years of career there have never been players who looked and talked to the side? I always solved this with my players talking, as I did with him, as is natural.
Now, it is true that on the day of the game, in the morning, when I went to explain to him that he was not going to play and why he was not going to play, he misunderstood. If I notice his reaction? I get it! I have already mentioned that that period was of great anxiety for him, I realize the reaction because for him he is a great friend who leaves him out. But I couldn't guide myself around, you know? I'm still the same with him. For my part, the relationship is the same and he continues to be like a son or a younger brother to me.
The day the phone rings, he always knows I'm here. That's guaranteed. I know it hurts, I know it hurts a lot. But that's how life is. I've already had a case, which is not quite the same, but similar. I had a very good relationship with Bruno Alves. I picked him up at FC Porto, took him to Greece, he was a player who grew up with me and we had a fantastic relationship. There is a moment when in the National Team I stop summoning him and Bruno the first few times almost didn't even tell me... Then it passed.”
Do you hope the same will happen to Cristiano Ronaldo?
Fernando Santos:“It's not a matter of hope. This belongs to God, it's not a matter of hope, these things can't be seen like that. I believe that one day we will meet, we will look at each other and think: 'We have always had this relationship'. There's no hurt on my part. I realize that at the time he was hurt, and I realize that maybe he is still hurt. But the relationship we had is not just any relationship.
One thing I've always said to the players, and that I've always done, and so maybe this relationship I can have with them, is that I separate the professional from the man very well. Even in my relationship, for example, with Pinto da Costa. I usually say that I lived with two. I separate the waters very well. My relationship with Cristiano hasn't changed at all. I hope that one day the current situation will change. If it doesn't happen, be patient. I'm sad, but that's it...”