Today, Georges Jesus announced the first list of the Portuguese national team after the official farewell of Cristiano Ronaldo. When a legend like Cristiano Ronaldo bids farewell to his country’s national team by publishing an emotional statement, it is natural that the list of the national team that will be published after him will be a historical list and will attract all eyes.
That was the reason why today’s press conference of Georges Jesus received more attention than any other press conference in the history of the Portuguese national team. And of course, this press conference was influenced by the head coach’s frank statements about the departure of the legend.
Portugal’s list in the post-Ronaldo era is one of the most historic events in football. An end to the two decades of rule of a player who was the birth certificate and symbol of this country’s football. Portugal should face Denmark and Wales in the League of Nations on November 14 and 17, but at the press conference, all eyes and questions were focused on only one issue: the secret of Ronaldo’s farewell. The reporters got permission one after the other and they all asked Jesus the same question: What happened that Cristiano decided to say goodbye?
After the sidelines and conflicts of the previous camp, which finally caused Chris to angrily leave the Portuguese national team camp, Ronaldo’s name was included in the initial list of Jesus, and because of this, many were waiting for his return, but yesterday, the legend officially announced his retirement from national games by releasing a video yesterday, so that the way to return is closed forever.
But let’s go back to today’s historic meeting. Georges Jesus started by referring to Ronaldo’s own words: “As Chris said, our goal is to rebuild and build the future. I am not at all interested in talking about what happened in the previous camp. Obviously, I thought Ronaldo would come back, I even thought about talking to him and inviting him, but I have to respect his decision. He felt it was time to go. It was going to happen sooner or later and he felt now was the best time. I have to accept his decision, without forgetting what a place he had and still has for Portuguese football. “He is a great role model for young people who are just starting out, but these two issues are completely separate.”
In response to a question that was asked about how he was informed of Cristiano’s final decision to say goodbye, the Portugal coach said: “Like all of you, I found out about the story yesterday after seeing the video he published. I made no attempt to speak to Chris again. My four-year contract with the federation is until 2030, and it was clear from the first day that Chris would say goodbye to the national team during my time there. This might not have happened in my era if only Chris had continued to play until 2030! If there was no FIFA Day before this, this incident would have happened in one of the next FIFA Days of the League of Nations. If I said that I wanted to invite him, because I thought that he intends to continue until the end of the League of Nations project. There is no malice or malice. why Because I made all my decisions for the benefit of the team. “As a coach, I always want the best for the team and I am completely at peace with the decision I made and I have no regrets.”
In response to many questions that accused him of being the culprit of Ronaldo’s farewell, Jesus did not go under the burden of being guilty of Ronaldo’s separation: “I am not to blame for his farewell. Maybe I started a little early, but it wasn’t my fault. He himself knew that this moment would come sooner or later with a more or less camp. This was part of the fate of my coaching career and I don’t feel guilty at all. I respect his decision and his track record cannot be denied. I never will, because he will always be a legend. “I’ve had a great friendship with him for a year and a half, but now Chris has made a different decision on the football field and I totally respect that.”
Portugal’s new list surprises
The new list of European Seleção has big changes. Inviting Monteza’s 21-year-old phenomenon Gustavo Varela was one of Jesus’ most attractive decisions. Varela is currently leading the list of contenders for Mr. Goal Serie A with 9 goals and has been a surprise in Italy this season.
Jesus said about this generational change: “Compared to the previous camp, seven new players have entered the list. including five players who played in the under-21 team until recently. My goal is to transfer the brilliant performance of these players in their clubs to the senior team. As Chris said, we are looking to rebuild a generation to build the future of the Portugal national team.”
Read more: Ronaldo’s farewell changed the head coach of Portugal!
