For Portugal’s upcoming FIFA World Cup encounter against Uzbekistan, former France midfielder Patrick Vieira has asked coach Roberto Martinez to take a risk and bench captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Vieira’s remarks came after Portugal’s disappointing 1-1 tie with DR Congo, in which Ronaldo was unable to score.
The former Arsenal captain stated on The Rest Is Football podcast that Martinez should put the team’s needs ahead of the status of the seasoned attacker.
“Martinez must consider the team before considering Ronaldo.” Therefore, if the squad performs better without him, he will need to make the difficult decision not to start him,” Vieira stated. “I worry for him [Ronaldo], his legacy will be spoiled a little bit if he kicks off and gets taken off, because he has been an extraordinarily wonderful football player for twenty years,” he continued.
Piers Morgan, a British presenter, has defended Ronaldo, saying the criticism directed at the Portugal captain is unfair. Instead, Bruno Fernandes was singled out by Morgan for his lackluster performance in the draw with DR Congo.
Morgan claimed in an interview with Sports Uncensored that Fernandes had trouble influencing the game and provided Ronaldo with little offensive help.
“Have you seen the Portugal match? “I believed Bruno Fernandes had the worst game,” Morgan remarked. “Declan Rice was [the Premier League Player of the Season], in my opinion. In my opinion, Fernandes seldom had a good kick during the match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Ronaldo, not a flying winger, but a number nine. He required the team’s assistance, but he did not receive it.
