Micah Richards insists Portugal have a Cristiano Ronaldo ‘problem’ after the veteran forward played in all three group stage games… as pundits claim the 39-year-old is ‘hard to manage’

Micah Richards has claimed that Portugal might have a ‘problem’ with Cristiano Ronaldo after the veteran forward played in all three group stage matches. 

Roberto Martinez’s side ended their group stage with a 2-0 defeat to Georgia, having already secured qualification and, thus, playing a vastly rotated squad for the tie. 

However, the one player who featured in all three of their Group F fixtures was none other than 39-year-old Ronaldo. 

Ronaldo is yet to score at the tournament and it’s been suggested that his desire to play in their final group fixture was down to his goal drought, which Richards says could be an issue. 

Speaking about their chances at Euro 2024 on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: ‘I like the look of Portugal. In terms of squads, we know what they can do. They might have a little bit of a problem with Ronaldo’.

Micah Richards has suggested that Portugal may have a ‘problem’ with the veteran forward

One of Richards’ co-hosts, Gary Lineker, interjected and said: ‘He was the only player that played the other two games that played in the last game. And you know why?

‘We were looking ahead to the Portugal game and we were saying, you know, Ronaldo is playing! Why would you play him?

‘He’s getting on a bit now. Save your energy for the knockout stages. And Wayne [Rooney] went, there’s no way he wouldn’t play – because he hasn’t scored in the first two games.

‘And he wants his goals. And he was like, it’s like the whole game, he was angry. He was angry at the referees.

‘He was angry at his teammates for not getting to the balls properly sometimes. And then when he went off, he kind of kicked something in disgust.

‘He must be quite tough to manage because I think he was right to take him off.

Alan Shearer then intervened and commented: ‘I don’t think it matters what he does. He’s playing. If he wants to play, then he plays, doesn’t he?’

Lineker agreed, saying: ‘Oh yeah. he’ll play. And of course he’ll play. He should play. I still think he’s moving. He’s so sharp in the box. I watch him, he’s brilliant at the way he moves and he goes one way, spots in the other.

‘And little dashes, obviously he can’t do too much. He’s not going to chase anyone down nowadays at his age, but his movement around the box, it’s not happened for him yet though. He’s missed, you can see the frustration.’

Ronaldo painted a frustrated figure after he was substituted against Georgia on Wednesday

Ronaldo kicked out in anger as he was substituted in the second half of the group stage game

Ronaldo did in-fact paint a frustrated figure against Georgia as he kicked kicked out in anger as he was substituted in the second half of the match. 

He was withdrawn by Martinez after 66 minutes, replaced by Goncalo Ramos, but didn’t take the substitution well as he lashed out, kicking the turf as he made his way to his seat.

The 39-year-old received a pat on the back from Martinez, looking down and appearing frustrated as other members of the Portugal coaching staff patted him on the back.

He then lashed out, with other team-mates patting him on the back as he took a seat, slumped in his chair.