Bruno Fernandes makes clear he disagrees with Cristiano Ronaldo comments on Portugal national team

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Bruno Fernandes and Portugal have enjoyed a good international break, winning 4-0 and 6-0 against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.

These two European qualifiers were easy fixtures, but Portugal still did well to make light work of them and keep two clean sheets.

The two performances were exactly what Portugal needed, with a new start under new manager Roberto Martinez, appointed after Fernandes Santos departed after the World Cup.

Bruno Fernandes started both games, providing an assist in the win over Luxembourg, but there was one thing the Manchester United star took exception to.

• READ: Manchester United’s next nine fixtures after the international break

Fernandes disagrees with Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued at international level and scored four goals in the two matches.

Speaking at a press conference last week reported by O Jogo, Ronaldo said he was excited by the new start for Portugal.

He said: “It is a different chapter for all of us, players, staff, the country itself, and the energies they are good, positive and that is the most important thing.

“We have fresh air now, with different ideas, with different mentalities and that is very good, it is very noticeable.”

However, speaking to interviewers after Portugal’s second game, Bruno Fernandes has distanced himself from Ronaldo’s comments.

Fernandes told ZeroZero that Ronaldo got it wrong, that the energy around the Portugal squad has always been positive.

He said: ′′No, it’s just a new coach, with new ideas. There is no breath of fresh air.

“It’s just a transitional period. The atmosphere in the national team has always been good. There was never anything that wasn’t fresh air so I think it’s simply new dynamics, new coach and you have to assimilate his ideas.”

Publicly disagreeing with Ronaldo might not do too much for the atmosphere in the Portugal camp.

On the other hand, Fernandes provided his first assist for Ronaldo at the weekend since 2021. So long as he is doing that and Ronaldo is scoring goals – the ‘air’ in the Portugal camp will stay positive.