Roberto Martínez needs to find his backbone and face the facts at this summer’s World Cup – Cristiano Ronaldo is a luxury Portugal can no longer afford
Cristiano Ronaldo is becoming a burden for the Portuguese team (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
He stood alone when the final whistle blew. He didn’t want to shake hands with his teammates, he didn’t care about his rivals who had just humiliated and humiliated him in Houston.
He looked lost and confused before parting ways with the rest of the Portugal squad and heading down the tunnel, taking a walk of shame in front of disgruntled supporters.
So much for Bruno Fernandes claiming that Portugal is a brotherhood. A team full of unity.
Hours after Portugal drew with Congo, Cristiano Ronaldo gave a shoutout on social media. “This is not over yet,” he said. But this is exactly what has happened so far. The end of a great era.
But if Ronaldo looks confused and bewildered, imagine how the Portuguese Football Federation feels.
Who is in charge of this Portuguese team may be one of the questions on president Pedro Proenza’s lips.
Because it doesn’t look like Roberto Martinez. Martinez is expected to retire after this tournament. As it stands, this feels like one of his smarter decisions.
Given the team’s dismal performance in the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, perhaps Martinez should step down now and let Ronaldo become player-manager on an interim basis.
Not content with wasting Belgium’s golden generation, he now appears on a mission to do the same for Portugal.
Portugal national team coach Roberto Martinez has decided to use Ronaldo for the entire match.
Martinez falls on his own sword. And the person he stabbed himself with was from the soccer player he so passionately wanted to protect. He is coddling someone who no longer deserves it.
And if Martinez cannot continue to have the backbone to stand up to his captain, that delusion will be a fatal disaster for the world of football.
England were in a similar situation with former manager Gareth Southgate and Jude Bellingham. It is one of the basic requirements for managers at the highest level to make difficult decisions.
Martinez must accept the risk of becoming unpopular if it means doing what’s best for the team. Blind belief, as opposed to showing ignorance, does no harm to the same side.
However, if Martinez’s post-match comments about Ronaldo are true, it seems unlikely that he will break with his tradition.
“We found it difficult because they (Congo) had a back six. In such a situation you can use his (Ronaldo’s) qualities,” Martinez said.
Ronaldo puts in a disastrous performance in draw against Democratic Republic of Congo
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Ronaldo will have to be left out for Portugal’s next match (Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
If Martinez is going to leave the role, what does he have to lose? Because the respect he thinks he deserves is quickly fading into the Texas sunset.
Ronaldo will not accept the truth. He still thinks he’s Superman in disguise. But his brain is trying to write a check that his talent can no longer cash.
However, it is not Ronaldo’s responsibility to face the facts. A soccer player with an ego like his would never allow something like this to happen.
That responsibility rests on one man’s shoulders. And this is the problem. Because Martinez isn’t “man enough” to be brave and bold when it matters most.
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