9ja Gbedu

🚨🗣️ José Mourinho criticises Portugal’s display against DR Congo and defends Cristiano Ronaldo:

🗣️ “I find it strange that so much of the criticism is directed at Cristiano Ronaldo when the service simply wasn't there.

People are talking about benching him, but how many genuine chances was he given? Very few, if any.

Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva are two of the most talented players in this squad, and naturally they have big responsibilities when it comes to creating opportunities. Against DR Congo, Portugal struggled to produce the kind of clear-cut chances you expect from players of that quality.

Before the tournament, many people were speaking about Bruno as a potential star of the World Cup. That's exactly why expectations should apply to everyone, not just Cristiano.

When Portugal don't perform well, the analysis should look at the entire team. It cannot always start and end with Ronaldo.

A striker depends on service. If the midfield and attacking players aren't creating enough danger, then it's difficult for any forward to make the difference.

Football is a collective sport. When things go well, the team gets the praise. When things go badly, the team should share the responsibility as well.” 🇵🇹⚽🎙️🔥

🇵🇹 CRISTIANO RONALDO: "THE CRITICISM CAN CONTINUE. THE WORK WILL CONTINUE TOO."

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With criticism growing and some fans calling for Roberto Martínez to take him off or even bench him, the Portuguese captain delivered a calm but powerful response.

"I've heard the noise. I've seen people saying I shouldn't be starting, people saying I'm the problem. That's football. When Portugal wins, we win together. When we don't, suddenly everybody wants to point at one player. I've lived with that for most of my career, so it doesn't bother me anymore."

Ronaldo insisted that responsibility belongs to the entire squad, not just one individual.

"I am the captain of this team. My job isn't only to score goals. My job is to lead, fight and keep this group united when things become difficult."

And he ended with a message to critics and supporters alike:

"The criticism can continue. The work will continue too. I will never stop fighting for Portugal."

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo knows the expectations will never disappear. But perhaps what defines legends isn't avoiding criticism—it's refusing to surrender when the noise becomes loudest.