Joao Felix admits he was ‘surprised’ when Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped to the bench by Portugal in the course of the Planet Cup… but he insists the legendary striker reacted actually nicely and ‘looked to give the crew confidence’
Joao Felix admitted he was ‘surprised’ to see Cristiano Ronaldo dropped to the bench all through Portugal’s World Cup campaign – but stated the 38-yr-previous refused to sulk about the dressing space.
Felix – who moved to Chelsea on a £9m loan deal in January from Atletico Madrid – was a group-mate of Ronaldo through the Planet Cup ahead of Portugal crashed out in a shock exit to Morocco at the quarter-final stage.
Following Fernando Santos’s side topped their team which involved Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea, they confronted Switzerland in a final-16 tie.
Even so, just after having difficulties for variety and only scoring one particular objective – a penalty in opposition to Ghana – Ronaldo was dropped for the clash and replaced by 21-yr-aged ahead Goncalo Ramos.
This induced massive shockwaves at the time, with numerous criticising Ronaldo for his subsequent steps while seeking glum on the bench.
Joao Felix (L) admitted he was astonished Cristiano Ronaldo (R) was dropped for the duration of the Globe Cup, but insisted the Portugal legend reacted ‘really well’ and supported his group-mates
Felix amazed for Portugal in Qatar ahead of he moved to Chelsea for a £9m bank loan rate final thirty day period
Ramos went on to rating a hat-trick but Felix revealed how the 38-year-old – who arrived off the bench in each the Switzerland and Morocco video games – was an fantastic aid in the dressing home, even with his private disappointment at remaining remaining out.
‘We had been astonished, mainly because viewing Cristiano on the bench is not one thing you might be made use of to,’ he told Spanish outlet AS.
‘But it was the gaffer’s final decision – he’s the one who calls the shots. Cristiano reacted genuinely perfectly, for the reason that we have been all pulling in the identical path and creating constructive vibes.
‘His reaction was truly good for the rest of us, simply because he appeared to give the crew self-assurance and make it clear that we were being all in this alongside one another.
‘It was seriously excellent for us and he just stored on being a serious enable in every single way.’
Felix also backed Ronaldo’s final decision to shift to Saudi Arabia to be a part of Pro League aspect Al-Nassr
Felix also commented on Ronaldo’s eye-watering £175m-a-yr move to Saudi Arabia facet Al-Nassr which has all over again been criticised as an illustration by some of the famous Portugal striker no extended becoming at an elite level.
Nonetheless, the Chelsea loanee failed to agree – and insisted Ronaldo experienced attained all he could in Europe.
He additional: ‘No [I’m not surprised by the move], mainly because there was almost nothing left for him to gain in Europe.
‘He’s composed his identify into the history guides and now he is heading to generate his name into the background textbooks in Saudi Arabia. I want him all the most effective.’
