Jose Mourinho has delivered a brutal assessment of Portugal after their goalless draw with Mexico.
The former manager did not hold back following the 0-0 result last Saturday, questioning the team’s strength without Cristiano Ronaldo, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Portugal struggled to create chances, recording only 10 shots in the game, despite controlling spells of possession.
And Mourinho was not left amused by what he saw.
Jose Mourinho questions Portugal without Cristiano Ronaldo
Mourinho’s verdict was direct and uncompromising.
According to GOAL, he said: “Take Cristiano Ronaldo out of the picture and Portugal look like any run-of-the-mill team.
“People keep asking us not to call him up. Well, he didn’t play today and you saw the result. No threat, no fear from the opposition. Just a team being put under pressure by Mexico.”
He concluded: “When Ronaldo is on the pitch, the opposition think twice. Without him, they don’t think at all.”
His comments underline the psychological impact Ronaldo still carries.
Portugal’s lack of cutting edge against Mexico appeared to support that view.
Still, it is important to remeber that the context around the line-up was significant.
Several key players were absent, including Diogo Costa, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias.
Roberto Martinez also rotated his squad, leaving Joao Neves and Vitinha on the bench.
Portugal’s talent suggests higher ceiling without Cristiano Ronaldo
Despite the criticism, Portugal possess one of their strongest generations ever.
Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s best player, while Vitinha and Joao Neves have developed into elite midfielders at PSG.
Bernardo Silva leads Manchester City, and Nuno Mendes is widely regarded among the best left-backs in the world.
Those names, added to various other stars, mean Portugal have a depth good enough to perform at a higher level regardless of Ronaldo’s presence.
The challenge now is turning that talent into consistent performances.
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