"Is he the coach?" EPL legend's 'no-holds-barred' criticism: "Portuguese coach fears dropping Ronaldo"... Martinez counters: "How do you bench the world's best striker?"

Football legend Chris Sutton has launched a sharp critique against Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez, accusing him of being afraid to substitute star player Cristiano Ronaldo. Sutton's comments came after Portugal's disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Sutton argued that Martinez's reluctance to bench Ronaldo, even when the team is underperforming, is a significant issue. He suggested that the coach's fear of backlash or controversy prevents him from making what Sutton sees as a necessary tactical decision. This hesitation, according to Sutton, could be detrimental to the team's performance.

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Martinez is afraid to substitute Ronaldo.

However, Martinez has pushed back against the criticism. The Portuguese coach defended his choices, posing a rhetorical question about how one could possibly sideline a player of Ronaldo's stature and experience. He implied that Ronaldo's presence and potential contribution are too valuable to be dismissed lightly, highlighting the dilemma coaches face with iconic players.

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How can you substitute the world's best goal scorer?