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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Alex Young

Cristiano Ronaldo rant revealed as Manchester United star vents anger at Portugal defeat

Cristiano Ronaldo's anger at Portugal's failure to qualify automatically for the 2022 World Cup has been revealed as the forward heads back to Manchester United.

Portugal needed just a point against Serbia to confirm their place in Qatar next year, but a last-gasp Aleksandar Mitrovic goal condemned them to a play-off place.

Ronaldo, who saw a goal controversially ruled out in the reverse fixture earlier this season, was pictured sitting on the pitch in tears at full-time as Serbia celebrated finishing top of Group A.

Portugal head coach Fernando Santos has revealed that Ronaldo let his frustrations be known to the celebrating Serbia players.

"I went to the field to support and comfort the players, [Ronaldo] was telling a Serbian player: 'You wouldn't be laughing if the goal I scored there hadn't been cancelled out'. What I told him was to take it easy," Santos told TVI.

"When the game was over, the disappointment was brutal. If it was for the Portuguese, imagine for the players and staff. The players were on the ground.

"The players tried. But then we didn't turn the game on. Every time we did, we created problems. But most of the time we couldn't.

"Serbia were better. We tried. Our DNA is to have the ball on our feet and play.

"Bernardo Silva wanted the ball, but he was the only one. We played with fear and anxiety. It's my responsibility.

"We'll be in Qatar. We know we didn't do what we should, but we'll be there."

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