Jorge Jesus: "I'd only miss Cristiano if he came to keep me company"

Portugal lost 1-4 to Denmark in their first match since Cristiano Ronaldo's retirement, with manager Jorge Jesus dismissing questions about missing the former captain.

Portugal suffered a heavy 1-4 home defeat to Denmark in their first match of the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era on Saturday. The loss came during a tribute to the retiring captain, who departed the national team after 23 years.

Manager Jorge Jesus was asked whether he missed Ronaldo following the surprise defeat. "If he's no longer in the squad, I'd only miss him if he came to keep me company," Jesus said in his press conference response. He acknowledged that the Portuguese public still remembers Ronaldo's contributions but emphasized that the player had made his decision to leave.

On the tactical performance, Jesus blamed his team's defensive frailty. "We weren't as solid as Denmark in defence. We couldn't stop their attack, especially in the second half. We conceded a penalty in the first half, and when I thought we could improve in the second, we didn't." He praised Denmark's display, noting they arrived with four consecutive wins and deserved credit for their superior performance.