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Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has come to the defence of his squad and captain Cristiano Ronaldo, describing the recent criticism following their sluggish start to the World Cup campaign as “unfair and unjust.”

Despite being among the favourites to lift the trophy this summer, Portugal could only manage a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston last week.

Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead in the sixth minute, but Yoane Wissa equalised for DR Congo late in the first half. Despite dominating possession, Portugal failed to convert their control into a winning result.

Martinez faced scrutiny for his decision not to substitute Ronaldo, who appeared short of inspiration, missing two second-half chances and registering only 25 touches throughout the match.

Speaking on Monday, Martinez said: “We are playing in a World Cup, so naturally there is a lot of noise and pressure, but that is part of football.”

He added, “Our focus is on the team. We want to maintain a positive attitude and be ready for the next match. The squad is focused, strong, and more united than ever.”

Although he did not directly name Ronaldo, Martinez emphasised that some of the criticism aimed at the team was “unfair, it’s unjust.”

The coach, however, declined to confirm whether the 41-year-old forward would start against Uzbekistan on Tuesday after his underwhelming display in the opener.

“I can’t share the starting eleven because I haven’t informed my players yet,” Martinez said when asked about Ronaldo’s inclusion in the lineup.

Ronaldo avoided speaking to the media after the draw but has since shared two posts on social media. In the first, he wrote: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game.”

On Sunday, he uploaded four photos from training with the caption: “Focused on the mission.”

This year, Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the only male footballers to have played in six World Cups. Ronaldo will attempt once again on Tuesday to become the first player to score in six different World Cups after failing to do so in the opening match.

Currently, he shares the record with Messi, who has netted five goals in Argentina’s two group-stage games this year, taking his overall World Cup tally to 18 goals across five tournaments. Messi did not score in the 2010 edition.

Despite Ronaldo’s struggles in the first match, Martinez remains confident that his captain can deliver when it matters most in the attacking third.

“Cristiano is the best at finishing in those situations,” the coach stated. “The statistics back up what this iconic player brings. Over the past 32 games, he has consistently created space, opened up defences, and found crucial attacking positions.”