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Recently appointed Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus has made it clear that he will avoid making large-scale changes to the national squad following their early exit from the World Cup. The former Al-Nassr boss has confirmed that his upcoming selection will closely mirror the previous lineup, keeping the door open for legendary captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jesus to make only limited adjustments

Portugal’s new manager, Jorge Jesus, who has signed a four-year contract to lead the team through to the 2030 World Cup, emphasised that he will not implement major changes before his Nations League campaign begins. The 71-year-old coach believes that the limited preparation time makes it unwise to experiment heavily after Portugal’s round-of-16 exit in the 2026 World Cup. His pragmatic stance indicates that 41-year-old Ronaldo continues to be a vital part of his plans.

Coach highlights importance of squad stability

The veteran tactician, formerly with Al-Nassr, assured fans that only a few changes will be made compared to the team that played in North America. Speaking to Canal 11, Jesus remarked: “People might think that the new coach will come in and change many players. That won’t happen. I’m not foolish. Moreover, I don’t have enough time to bring in several players who weren’t selected this time.”

He added: “Over the next four years, new talents will certainly appear, but the squad won’t differ much from those called up for the 2026 World Cup. Maybe two or three new players, something like that—it won’t go far beyond that.”

Emphasis on improved performance

While maintaining the existing core, including Al-Nassr’s star striker Ronaldo, Jesus has called for a notable improvement in performance levels to ensure Portugal remains a strong contender in European football.

Addressing the national team’s standards, Jesus stated: “If the national team does not play better than it did at the World Cup, I won’t achieve better results either. Along with my coaching staff, we must raise our level of play; otherwise, we’ll just keep chasing a dream that has eluded us for years.”

He continued: “We have exceptional players, but our achievements are limited. We won the European Championship a decade ago and have lifted two Nations League titles. Although it’s not the most prestigious competition, it’s one of the toughest because it consistently pits us against Europe’s best teams. Just last year, Portugal, France, Germany, and Spain all reached the finals.”

A new chapter set to begin

Jesus will face his first challenge when Portugal begin their Nations League Group A4 campaign against Wales on September 24. The question of Ronaldo’s international future now lies with Jesus, who previously guided the forward to a Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr last season. Their reunion with the national team is expected to mark the beginning of a new era for the Seleção.