Portuguese national team coach Fernando Santos has said he has decided to remove exhausted striker Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Italy.
Santos said in a press conference on Monday that after Saturday's clash against Armenia, the physical and mental condition of some players were discussed, and he believes he made the right decision, reports Efe.
Ronaldo was the star of the away Euro 2016 qualifiers, scoring a hat trick to secure a decisive 3-2 victory in Yerevan, Armenia.
Ronaldo scored five of Portugal's seven goals in the qualifiers, in which his team leads its group.
Santos considered it normal that the team depends on players of Ronaldo's calibre, and admitted that his team's performance against Armenia was not the best, but at the same time praised the team's effort and sacrifice to achieve victory.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app