The national coach, Fernando Santos, confirmed this Wednesday that Cristiano Ronaldo will be out of this Thursday’s game, with Nigeria, in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, due to gastritis.
“He has gastritis. Players like this are weaker because they lose a lot of liquid and today he won’t train because of that. For tomorrow he will not be safe, ”said Fernando Santos.
Cristiano Ronaldo was even one of the main topics of this press conference where Fernando Santos even assured that he would not summon the Madeiran “out of obligation”.
“It’s not a matter of obligation, nobody is obliged to do anything, as far as I know. All the players here, including Cristiano Ronaldo, are in a position to be in the starting eleven and start the game from the beginning.” , explained the national selector.
For the coach, African football “has improved a lot”, but the Portuguese are “motivated and focused” for this Thursday’s match against Nigeria and the CR7 interview did not affect the team’s performance at all.
“It is perfectly normal. In any press conference, four or five questions always have to do with Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s normal. They are personal things, which are theirs and do not spill over into what the selection is. It is a very personal interview. that you have to respect it. I did not see anyone commenting on that topic, quite the opposite, ”revealed the coach.
“I grew up watching Cristiano play”
António Silva was called up for the first time to the A team at just 19 years old. Training and playing alongside “very high quality” players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe or Rúben Dias, the young Portuguese international only wants to “learn as much as possible”.
“I didn’t expect to be here today, talking about the A team, but a lot has changed in my life in the last few months and I’m trying to make the most of it. I grew up watching Cristiano play, I don’t remember watching football without him. Christian. He is a great example, I will try to learn as much as possible from him because only then will I be a better player”, added António Silva.
Source: TSF
