Piers Debates Ronaldo's Bench Snub and a Manager's Promise

Can you, can you play him this extra game?

Ronaldo says, "Yes, albeit obviously I planned everything around what we agreed, but I will play in it." With 30 minutes to go, or second half, he puts him off the bench, said, "Warm up, warm up."

Yeah. He makes him warm up for 25 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yeah. He never uses him. To me, that's the lie, right? It's a bad lie, 'cause he's treating him like shit.

He's embarrassing him. Sorry, Piers, this is not Soccer Aid.

No, it's not. I'm, I'm sorry. It's not. You were talking about elite level football here.

Yeah. This is not we're gonna bring you on, sorry.

What do you know about elite level football?

No, no. But no, seriously, Piers, you... Listen, you follow Arsenal, right?

You watch Arteta. Can you imagine Arteta promising Odegaard to come off the bench? Can you imagine Odegaard- But Jesus- ... doing the same thing?

But you're, but you're missing the point.

Jesus- I'm not missing the point ... Jesus did promise him.

I mean, there's... What do you mean pro- He gave- Sorry ... he gave him his word.

Piers, what- That's what's annoyed Ronaldo ... Piers, Piers. When- It's not the sequence of events- When you- ... it's the failure to keep your word.

I'm sorry. This is not a charity game. Oh.

Listen to yourself. But a promise is a promise.

Listen to what you're saying. Yes. When you said you pro... There's no promises. It's a plan.

There's no promise. It's a plan. How do you know? Were you in the room?

Because I've been in the dressing room. I know what it's like.

Managers have plans. I've been in changing rooms on a Friday- Mm ... when the manager's put the team out, on a Saturday he's changed it.

That's his prerogative. Mm. He is allowed to do that. That's his job. He doesn't owe Ronaldo anything.

His job is to get the best result for Portugal, and if he thinks by not bringing on Cristiano Ronaldo is the best way to get result, that is his job and the right- Then don't tell him.

Look, no, no. Then don't tell him- But how coward it is- ... "I want you playing in this." No, I'm sorry