Bruno Fernandes rejects claims Portugal are better without Ronaldo

Bruno Fernandes has dismissed the suggested Portugal are better without Cristiano Ronaldo in the team.

Ronaldo is set to play for Portugal in what will likely be his last World Cup in North America next year.

While he has lifted the European Championship and UEFA Nations League trophies with Portugal, the biggest prize in world football has eluded the 40-year-old.

Portugal have only once reached the quarter-finals at a World Cup since they finished fourth in 2006.

Ronaldo was suspended for the Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier last month having been sent off in a 2-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland. Without him, they crushed Armenia 9-1 to clinch qualification.

But Fernandes rejects any notion that their performance in that game is evidence Portugal are better without the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star.

Fernandes defends Ronaldo

“Cristiano inside the box continues to be a very high-level player,” the United captain told Canal 11 of the Al-Nassr forward.

“He draws defenders and creates space for other players. If Cristiano doesn’t play and [Paris Saint-Germain’s] Gonçalo [Ramos] does, Gonçalo is strong in pressing and good at diagonal runs.

“When I’m not playing and Bernardo [Silva] is playing as a number 10, Bernardo gives you more possession, I make more of a final pass. It’s all like that. All players add things and take away others. Cristiano is the same as us. We have to know how to adapt and enhance each other’s qualities so that the national team benefits.

“I know what people think, that it’s clear we play better without Ronaldo, that the players are freer and more fluid.

“I think that, if that happens, it’s partly our fault. We can’t worry if Cristiano is on the pitch, because Cristiano can give us things.”

Portugal have been drawn in a favourable group in the expanded 48-team tournament. They will face Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K after starting their tournament against the winner of the inter-confederation play-off (DR Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia) and will be expected to progress as group winners.

As for the challenge Portugal will face in the knockout rounds as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time, Fernandes said: “We dream of winning the World Cup and that responsibility is positive.

“We must close ranks as a group and figure out where to improve, and understand that the World Cup won’t be perfect. I know we are prepared to have a great campaign that will bring honour to the country.”