No pressure to pass the ball to Ronaldo, says Portugal's Conceicao
The winger also stressed that Ronaldo remains an important member of the squad but is treated no differently from other players.
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao has dismissed suggestions that teammates feel compelled to pass the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting players always look for the best option on the pitch despite growing scrutiny over the veteran forward's role at the Fifa World Cup.
Portugal opened their Group K campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, a result that intensified debate over whether the 41-year-old Ronaldo's declining mobility is affecting the team's performance.
Speaking ahead of Portugal's second group-stage match against Uzbekistan, Conceicao rejected the idea that players are under pressure to feed Ronaldo, reports Al Jazeera.
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"We don't feel the need to pass him the ball," Conceicao said. "I pass it to whoever I think is in the best position and unmarked."
The winger also stressed that Ronaldo remains an important member of the squad but is treated no differently from other players.
"Cristiano is an example because of his career and the hunger he still possesses at 41 years of age… an example of leadership and the goals he scores," Conceicao said during a news conference.
"There is no one like him when it comes to scoring goals… He is here to help, just like any other player."
Ronaldo struggled to make a significant impact against DR Congo, recording just 25 touches – his lowest tally in a major tournament match for Portugal in which he played the full 90 minutes.
The performance drew further comparisons with long-time rival Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Algeria a day earlier.
Portugal now face Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday (23 June), knowing a win is crucial to revive their World Cup campaign.
"No one takes it harder than we do. We felt firsthand that we didn't do our job in the best possible way," Conceicao said.
"If things don't go well, there will be more pressure and more criticism. We want to show our quality and win the next match."
The criticism surrounding Ronaldo has extended beyond Portugal's dressing room.
Former France striker Thierry Henry accused the Portuguese captain of focusing too much on personal goals.
"The team needs to score, not you need to score," Henry said on Fox.
DR Congo midfielder Ngalayel Mukau was also asked after the match whether his side had devised a specific plan to stop Ronaldo.
"Not really. We know he's no longer the same player as before and that he's older now," Mukau replied.
"At his age, he can no longer put in the same effort as before, but I have tremendous respect for him."
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has also come under fire for keeping Ronaldo on the field throughout the draw while replacing midfielder Vitinha in the 83rd minute.
"That's embarrassing from Martinez," former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said on the BBC after the match.
"He's scared to take him off. He's not the manager… the game has passed him [Ronaldo] by today."
Critics argue that Martinez has viable alternatives available, including Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos, who came on as a substitute against DR Congo and is viewed by many as a natural replacement in the centre-forward role.
