Former Portugal manager, Fernando Santos has given two reasons he benched captain, Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout games.
Santos insisted it was a ‘tactical and technical decision,’ adding that Ronaldo was not happy to sit on the bench.
Santos benched the Al-Nassr forward during the win over South Korea in the Round of 16 and the defeat to Morocco in the quarterfinal.
His decision sent shockwaves across the world.
Reflecting on the incident at his unveiling as new Besiktas manager, Santos said (via Goal): “It was a tactical and technical decision.
“There was no other situation. Strategic decisions are always the most important things for me. I had to make these decisions and I made them correctly. If we had not been eliminated from the World Cup, there would have been no problem.”
“I told him that he was not going to start in the Round of 16. He was not happy with the conversation, as is normal. But I assure you that he never wanted to leave.”
Santos gives reasons he benched Ronaldo in 2022 World Cup knockout matches