NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO clearly cannot understand the criticism Cristiano Ronaldo is receiving at the moment.
The Tottenham boss faces his former Portugal team-mate when Manchester United visit N17 for their Premier League clash tomorrow evening.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ron, who returned to United from Juventus in a sensational £13milllion summer switch, has been partially blamed for the Red Devils ropey start to the season, despite netting six goals in nine appearances for them in all competitions.
Critics claim his arrival has upset the balance of the squad and undermined boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But Nuno said: “Ronaldo for all of us Portuguese is something we are very proud of. He has brought us so many moments of immense happiness.
“When you go around the world and people ask you where you’re from and you say Portugal the first thing they say is Ronaldo.
“That is what it means for all of us, one of the best players in history.”
Nuno revealed Ryan Sessegnon is definitely out for Tottenham, while Bryan Gil is a major doubt after limping out of their midweek Carabao Cup win at Burnley.
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The Spurs chief, speaking at his pre-match Press conference this afternoon, said: “Let’s see. Bryan we have a problem with, he came out in the game. We are assessing. Sessegnon is not involved, still not in the group.
“We still have the training session this afternoon then we’ll see who starts.”
Asked if Dele Alli and Harry Wink will be involved after they did not even make the bench at Turf Moor, Nuno said: “We are working with all the players. We still have the training session then we will decide the squad for the match.”
And Nuno refused to discuss the futures of the pair and whether they could leave Spurs in January.
He said: “They are our players, they are here with us. There’s nothing to be worried about.
“It’s a situation where we have to work, we have to improve all the players, build momentum on the performance of the players.
“This is what a squad is about. Making decisions, taking advantage of the moment, the talent, what we want for the game. All the players we count.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
