Fernando Santos rapped: ‘Leave Cristiano Ronaldo alone’ as he scotched reports Portugal’s skipper wanted to quit the World Cup.
The head coach of the Selecao hit back at suggestions that the 37-year-old threw a strop after being sidelined for the last 16 clash against Switzerland.
He launched into a lengthy monologue in defence of his country’s greatest goalscorer as he attempted to draw a line under the maelstrom that continues to swirl around the superstar. Santos’s decision to omit Ronaldo paid off in spectacular fashion as Portugal battered the Swiss 6-1 to reach the quarter-final.
