Ronaldo not comfortable as a striker, claims Bento

Posted Tuesday, July 01, 2014 by Goal.com

The Portugal coach says the Real Madrid star was not a suitable option as the spearhead of the Seleccao's attack in their disappointing World Cup campaign

Portugal boss Paulo Bento has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo is not comfortable playing the centre-forward role on the back of a failed World Cup campaign.

The 29-year-old could not prevent Paulo Bento's men from getting dumped out at the group stage as Germany and USA progressed ahead of them from Group G.

There had been suggestions that Real Madrid star Ronaldo should have been deployed in the striker role, especially given injuries to Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga, but Bento has doubts over whether he would have been suitable away from the flank.

"I never thought of Ronaldo as the spearhead, it was not on my mind to put Ronaldo as the only centre-forward since the beginning of the tournament," he told TV1.

"I think it's not the best for his goal tally and for the team. We talked about it, of course. He did not seem to feel comfortable in that position, but it was not necessary for him to tell me that."

The skipper was a major injury concern ahead of the World Cup and did not look at full fitness in all three games, but Bento insisted the Ballon d'Or holder would not have been risked had he not proven himself in training in Brazil.

"When he reached the training camp he was not at 100 per cent but then he was able to train and play," the Seleccao boss added.

"He played with great effort and sacrifice and he was medically fit - he would not have played otherwise. There was not any pressure to speed his recovery."