Diogo Dalot revealed that the Portuguese team took the time to prepare for possible negative reactions on social media ahead of the World Cup, emphasizing that having a player of Cristiano Ronaldo’s caliber necessitated this preparation.
Following their 1-1 draw with Congo DR, Portugal and Ronaldo faced criticism from fans and analysts alike.
Well-known figures like former France and Arsenal forward Thierry Henry criticized Ronaldo, stating, “the team needs to score, not you need to score.”
In response, Dalot, a defender for Manchester United, defended his teammate. He explained that the squad had proactively discussed their approach to potential social media backlash in preparation for the tournament.
“It was straightforward. In the locker room, prior to arriving at the World Cup, we had an in-depth conversation about social media and how to handle criticism,” said Dalot.
“It was almost as if we anticipated this occurrence. With a squad like ours, particularly with Cristiano, we have to be more prepared than usual.”
“Having that pre-World Cup discussion allowed us to face criticism confidently when it arose, sending a message that our group remains resilient. We understood that difficulties and scrutiny would come, sometimes unjustly or exaggerated.”
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Portugal will take on Uzbekistan on Tuesday, a critical match in Group K. Dalot expressed confidence in Ronaldo’s ability to rebound as they pursue their first World Cup title.
“Everyone knows how effectively Cristiano handles criticism. He has more than two decades of experience with the national team,” Dalot remarked.
“His ability to instill confidence in the team, and ours in him, has remained unwavering. As long as he is part of the national team, he will always possess that knack and readiness to compete.”