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Portugal boss Fernando Santos in subtle Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dig over Cristiano Ronaldo
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been criticised for resting Cristiano Ronaldo against Everton.
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Portugal manager Fernando Santos has aimed a subtle dig at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to rest Cristiano Ronaldo against Everton last weekend. The Manchester United boss started Ronaldo on the bench, a move which garnered mass criticism after a disappointing 1-1 draw.
United dropped points at home for the second successive Premier League game, and Express Sport understands the 36-year-old was left livid by the decision.
Ronaldo will look to bounce back on international duty as Portugal face Qatar in a friendly before a World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg next week.
Currently on 180 caps, he is chasing Malaysian Soh Chin Ann's 195-game record for the most-capped international player.
Ahead of Portugal's upcoming internationals, Santos has confirmed Ronaldo will feature in Saturday's friendly against Qatar because he is short of 'playing time'.
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He told reporters: "Thinking about the game against Qatar is not about records; he [Ronaldo] will always beat that record. He's not worried about it.
"He will go to the game because he needs playing time. It's important to him at this stage. The last full game he played was in the Champions League [vs Villarreal].
"If he only plays against Luxembourg, he will have practically 15 days without playing with intensity.
"At this point, I will say that there are strong possibilities of Ronaldo going to the game against Qatar, either starting or coming on later during the second half so that the competitive rhythms are at their maximum against Luxembourg."
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Solskjaer's decision to rest Ronaldo against Everton hasn't helped the mounting pressure on his position as United manager.
The Portuguese icon had netted five goals in his first five games since returning to Old Trafford from Juventus in the summer.
Despite coming on for the final 30 minutes, he couldn't inspire United to back-to-back wins for just the second time this season.
Instead, the Red Devils have managed to win just two of their last six games in all competitions.
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Ronaldo will be crucial for Solskjaer as United head into a daunting run of fixtures after the international break.
A trip to Leicester City before hosting Atalanta in the Champions League will be followed by facing the other five of England's 'Big Six' in the next six Premier League games.
It will be a make or break period in United's season and Solskjaer's tenure in the hot seat.