09 January 2023 , 12:02
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Roberto Martinez has a Cristiano Ronaldo-sized problem to solve after being confirmed as the new Portugal manager.
The Spaniard was a free agent after leaving his role as Belgium boss following a miserable World Cup campaign that saw a group stage exit, and duly meant he did not have his contract renewed. He has now been announced as the new manager of the Seleccao, with his predecessor Fernando Santos sacked after the 2016 European champions were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Morocco.
Martinez was unveiled during a press conference on Monday after putting pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He said: "I'm very happy to be here, I'm delighted to be able to represent one of the most talented teams in the world. It is the project I wanted. I understand that there are high expectations and goals, but I also understand that there is a large group of people working to fulfil our goals."
Portugal FA president Fernando Gomes said: "Roberto Martinez's path speaks for itself. He was born in Spain and as a player he developed in England. As a coach, he has built a career based on the permanent acquisition of skills and work.
"Six seasons ago he had the opportunity to start managing Belgium, a team that placed him at number 1 in the world ranking for several years and that made him a team capable of fighting any opponent, for all titles. In the first conversation with Robert Martinez it was immediately clear that he was facing a coach who fit the profile drawn.
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"He, like us at the FPF, believes that Portugal can and should always be in the decision of major competitions. And being in the final means, at least, accessing the semi-finals. In any test.
"This is what we aspire to, this is the DNA of the Federation."
Roberto Martinez has been confirmed as the new manager of the Portugal national team (Ana Brigida/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Upon his arrival, Martinez has a major conundrum to solve with regards the future of Ronaldo. Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most appearances in Selecao history, whilst he is also the nation’s record goalscorer with 118 strikes to his name.
However, Martinez has previously seemed to suggest that the 37-year-old might not be set to play a pivotal role for the nation going forwards - reckoning that the veteran might not have the stamina to cope with the demands of top-level football.
Speaking in October last year, when Ronaldo was still a Red Devils player, he said: "Cristiano Ronaldo is an iconic player and when the Ballon d’Or list came out he was still the highest player from Manchester United.
Ronaldo struggled at the World Cup (William Volcov/REX/Shutterstock)"He has two problems: one is that he is 37 so when he has a bad game, it is because he is 'too old' and it’s almost like he is not allowed to play a bad game. The problem this year is that you can have five substitutes.
"Ronaldo comes from an era that, when you are not playing 90 minutes, it was seen as a negative. Now we are seeing attacking players not playing 90 minutes regularly, maybe 20 or 30 minutes because of the intensity and the demands of the Premier League."
The former Real Madrid superstar already lost his starting role during the closing fixtures of the World Cup and was benched for the round of 16 clash with Switzerland. Portugal ended up winning 6-1 with the veteran’s replacement Goncalo Ramos bagging a hat-trick on his full debut.
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Ronaldo remained on the bench for Portugal in the next game with the side being eliminated by Morocco. Taking to Instagram shortly after his nation’s exit, the striker appeared to suggest that he would not be appearing at another World Cup but stopped short of confirming his international retirement.
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He wrote: “Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career. Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream.
"Sadly yesterday the dream ended.It's not worth reacting to heat,” Ronaldo added. “I just want you all to know that much has been said, much has been written, much has been speculated, but my dedication to Portugal hasn't changed for a moment. I was always one fighting for the objective of all and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country.”