Jorge Jesus was emphatic about Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from Portugal: "What is there to miss?"

The end of an era always leaves questions and forces us to find new answers. The Portugal National Team began to walk that path without Cristiano Ronaldo, its greatest reference over the last two decades, but the debut of the Portuguese team in this new stage was far from what was expected: it suffered a resounding home defeat of 4-1 against Denmark and the focus returned to the absence of its historic figure. However, Jorge Jesus was blunt in dismissing any connection between the result and the forward's departure.

When asked in a press conference if the team had missed the former captain, the coach responded straightforwardly and made it clear that he considers that stage closed. "There is no connection between the two. It’s normal for people to miss him and not forget what Cris achieved during his 23 years with the National Team. That is indisputable. Miss? What is there to miss? If he is no longer available for the national team, what exactly are we missing? Only if he were someone who kept me company. He no longer plays, he is no longer here, and he has already made his decision about his situation", he expressed.

Beyond the bluntness of his words, the match had a special recognition for Ronaldo. The Portuguese players took to the field with the number seven on their jerseys, while the fans gave him a standing ovation when the clock reached that same minute, in tribute to the one who was the main symbol of the national team for more than two decades.

The defeat also caused discontent among some supporters, some of whom left the stadium before the final whistle. Regarding that reaction, Jesus acknowledged the disappointment generated by the result: "As for some fans leaving the stadium when the team was losing 4-1, no one is satisfied or happy. We were not prepared for the possibility of losing here, much less by 4 to 1".

The relationship between the coach and Cristiano had been under scrutiny since the forward announced his retirement from the national team. At that time, the coach denied having any responsibility in the decision and stated that he would not change the decisions he had made because he always prioritized collective needs, although he acknowledged that he might have rushed some steps. He also considered that the end of the striker's time in Portugal was inevitable and that it was the player himself who chose when to finalize it.

Despite the differences, he highlighted on various occasions his status as a historic reference and the influence he had on new generations. He even mentioned that he had not had a conversation with him after learning the news, although he had in mind to call him up for the Nations League.

After the harsh defeat against Denmark, Portugal remains at the top of Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League, with 12 points from five matches, while the Danes are left with nine points and still have a chance to reach first place. The next commitment for the Portuguese team will be against Wales on Tuesday, November 17 in Cardiff, where they will seek to secure the leadership of their group.