Portugal winger Pedro Neto has dismissed the idea that the national team is entirely dependent on Cristiano Ronaldo’s performances.
Ronaldo recently bounced back with a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 FIFA World Cup group-stage victory over Uzbekistan, responding to a quiet opening match in which he failed to score or provide an assist in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Ronaldo’s first World Cup appearance sparked widespread debate about Portugal’s reliance on the Al Nassr star, but Neto does not share that view.
“I think Cristiano is extremely important to us, but I believe the word dependence is a bit too strong,” Neto said.
“Yes, we know that if we get the ball to him inside the penalty area, there’s a very high probability that he’ll score. However, we certainly create goal-scoring opportunities for every player on the pitch, and that’s exactly what we work on.”
“We have our own tactics and our own style of play. I don’t think we depend on Cristiano, but of course, we have complete confidence in him,” the Portugal winger concluded.
