Portugal secured a 4-2 victory over Denmark in Copenhagen on Friday in a UEFA Nations League Group A4 match, a result that reinforced new manager Jorge Jesus’s confidence in his approach despite ongoing questions about star forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence.

Ronaldo had left the Portugal camp on Wednesday after being once again named on the bench, marking the second consecutive match in which he was not in the starting lineup under Jesus. Ahead of the game, much of the focus centered on the controversy surrounding the 41-year-old, but Jesus emphasized that the team’s performance and result were of greater importance.

“This is a high-quality victory, with four goals and a top-level performance,” Jesus said in a post-match interview. “That’s what I want to focus on. Whatever happened should not overshadow the result.”

Jesus also addressed concerns about whether the squad remained united behind him amid the Ronaldo situation. “There’s nothing that should stop the group from being with me,” he stated. “The things that happen don’t separate the group; they haven’t separated us and they won’t separate us.”

On the pitch, Goncalo Ramos stepped up in place of Ronaldo, delivering a strong offensive contribution by setting up Joao Cancelo’s opening goal and scoring Portugal’s second. Vitinha and Joao Felix also found the net, with Vitinha’s header from a Bruno Fernandes cross helping restore Portugal’s lead before Felix completed the scoring.

Jesus’s side dominated despite the absence of their longtime talisman, and the win marked Jesus’s third consecutive victory since taking over following Roberto Martinez’s departure after Portugal’s World Cup exit. The manager expressed satisfaction with the squad’s belief in his vision and style.

“I have a squad that believes in my vision,” Jesus told RTP. “With so much individual quality, things come more easily. They’re right behind me and my ideas.”

Players reflected similar sentiments. Ramos highlighted that Jesus had introduced “clearer ideas” to the team’s play, while Vitinha described their performance against Denmark as Portugal’s best under the new coach. “We played an excellent game,” Vitinha said. “Beyond the win, the content of our game was great. I think it was our best display so far.” He added that the squad remained focused on the match rather than the ongoing Ronaldo narrative.

Jesus had previously stated that he would not comment on the details surrounding Ronaldo’s decision to leave the camp until the international window closes. Following the match, he maintained that stance, choosing to focus solely on the result and team performance.

Portugal’s next fixture is against Norway on Sunday in Porto. Whether Ronaldo will return remains unclear, with the manager yet to address the situation publicly.