Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez would do well to follow Erik ten Hag’s blueprint from the Dutchman’s reign at Manchester United.
The 2026 World Cup started with a shock 1-1 draw for Portugal against DR Congo.
For a side tipped as genuine World Cup favourites, with a midfield spearheaded by Bruno Fernandes to back up the hype, Portugal’s inability to break down a disciplined DR Congo defence was a glaring reality check.
Thierry Henry’s cutting analysis of Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, suggested he is proving to be a hindrance to Fernandes.
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Roberto Martinez should take a leaf out of Erik ten Hag’s book when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo
While Roberto Martinez’s choices against DR Congo warrant criticism, any real fix requires dismantling the power shift dictating the squad – one ruled by a Ronaldo who still acts as if he is superior to every other man in the room.
Ronaldo, who played from start to finish, was a drain on Portugal throughout the match.
In a scathing but fitting assessment, The Independent’s Miguel Delaney likened Ronaldo’s draining performance to a declining cinematic franchise: “If yesterday was Star Wars, Ronaldo [is] currently going through his own dismally expensive Disney sequel where it’s all past its sell-by date.”
The most alarming takeaway for Portugal was Martinez appearing completely paralysed by the prospect of withdrawing Ronaldo, choosing to leave his captain on the pitch despite having Joāo Félix, Francisco Trincāo, and Gonçalo Guedes available on the bench.
After all, this is a player whose last goal in a major international competition was in 2022, at the Qatar World Cup, when he scored a penalty against Ghana.
This is precisely why Martinez needs to stop managing the Ronaldo brand and start following Erik ten Hag’s blueprint.
The clash of footballing ideologies was evident from the moment Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in 2022; his demand for an aggressive press was entirely incompatible with Ronaldo’s latter-career game.
Former United assistant coach Steve McClaren knew it would blow up between Ronaldo and Ten Hag well before the forward’s departure, yet the Dutch coach never wavered, choosing tactical ruthlessness over reputation.
This is the exact standard Martinez must set for the benefit of this Portugal side on the world stage. The lingering question is whether Martinez is too timid and scared to enforce that same tough love – if ‘love’ is even the right word for it.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous interview was a step too far for Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag admitted after Ronaldo’s exit that the veteran forward had to leave the club following his interview with Piers Morgan.
In that interview, Ronaldo said he had “no respect” for Ten Hag and that the club “betrayed” him since his ‘homecoming’ in the summer of 2021.
“The interview I think, as a club, you can’t accept,” Ten Hag said, as per Forbes.
“There will be consequences. To make that step, he knew the consequences.”
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