Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal face Denmark in the Nations League on Sunday - three days after Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund scored the winner in the reverse fixture
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Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo
Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo(Image: Getty Images)
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted his teammates "will fight with everything we have" as they prepare for Sunday's National League quarter-final second-leg against Denmark.
Ronaldo, 40, was in the firing line following Portugal's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Copenhagen on Thursday. The Al-Nassr forward cut a frustrated figure as his nation were defeated at Parken and had to witness Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund mimic his celebration after scoring the winner.
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Hojlund found the net in the 78th minute to spare the blushes of United teammate Christian Eriksen, who missed a first-half penalty. And after scoring, Hojlund ran towards the corner and performed Ronaldo's 'Siu' celebration.
Now, Portugal face Denmark at Estadio Jose Alvalade looking to overturn the 1-0 deficit and progress through to the Nations League semi-final. Speaking in an Instagram post before the second leg, Ronaldo issued a stern warning to his opponents and admitted Portugal are the "strength of an entire country".
Ronaldo, who has 651 million followers, wrote: "Tomorrow we are not just 11 on the field, we are the strength of an entire country. We will fight with everything we have to move forward. Together!"
Although there was backlash from some fans and pundits alike following Hojlund's celebration, Ronaldo admitted he doesn't have a problem with the United striker.
"For me, it was not a problem," Ronaldo said on Saturday, before the second leg of their quarter-final. "I knew that this was not because he did not have respect for me.
"I'm smart enough to understand that not only him but around the world people from other sports also do my celebration. For me, it is an honour.But [on Sunday] I hope that he can see my celebration. It is OK for me. If I score, it’s good for me, but if I don’t score and someone else scores, that’s fine with me."
Hojlund, meanwhile, claimed on Thursday that he wasn't trying to make fun of his "idol" and instead praised Ronaldo after scoring for Denmark against Portugal.
"I'm playing against the world's best footballer, my idol, and to score and become the [match] winner, it couldn't be better," Hojlund told Denmark's TV2. "It was not to mock him or anything, I've always said he has had great importance for me and my football career.
"Scoring against him and Portugal is huge, I went to see him in 2009, where he scored from a free kick, and I’ve been a fan ever since."
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