'Missing Cristiano how?': Jesus dismisses Ronaldo suggestion after heavy Portugal defeat

Jorge Jesus dismissed suggestions Portugal missed Cristiano Ronaldo as they were beaten 4-1 at home by Denmark in the Nations League on Saturday.

Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football earlier this month after a public falling out with Portugal head coach Jesus during the September and October Nations League games.

In the first game since Ronaldo's announcement, Portugal were well beaten in Braga as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's penalty was followed by Rasmus Højlund's double and a goal for Joachim Andersen.

Bernardo Silva scored a stoppage-time consolation for Portugal, who remain top of their group and are already through to the quarter-finals.

Some supporters left the stadium early, while others chanted Ronaldo's name from the stands.

However, Jesus insisted the loss had nothing to do with the absence of 41-year-old Ronaldo.

"One thing has nothing to do with the other. People miss him, they haven't forgotten what Cristiano did for 23 years with the national team," Jesus said.

"There's no going back. Some people left when the team was losing 4-1. Nobody is happy, and we weren't prepared to lose 4-1 today either.

"Missing Cristiano how? If he's no longer in the national team? Only if it's to keep me company. He doesn't play anymore, he's not here, he's already decided his situation."

Jesus then accepted blame for the defeat, adding: "If the team couldn't do it, it has to do with my instructions.

"They couldn't introduce into the game what we normally work on these days and what we've been doing well, especially defensively.

"It was unthinkable that Denmark would score four goals against us. But whoever doesn't defend well, as happened today, can't stop Denmark.

"When they reached our last line, we had a lot of difficulty containing their forwards."