Portugal forward Conceicao insists teammates don't feel pressure to pass to Ronaldo

[p]Critics have questioned whether the 41-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Ronaldo[/a]'s lack of mobility is having a negative effect on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a]'s chances in the wake of a pedestrian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/portugal-WvJrjFVN/summary/stats/?mid=4zTHJLbM"]1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo[/a].[/p][p]But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chico-conceicao/n53v4sSd/"]Conceicao[/a] on Sunday there was no was question of players feeling obliged to pass to Ronaldo if other teammates were in better attacking positions.[/p][p][b]"We don't feel the need to pass him the ball,"[/b] Conceicao said. [b]"I pass it to whoever I think is in the best position and unmarked."[/b][/p][embed guid="9d7ab84a-41a7-4ecb-bcd2-fb3d42ee3ab2" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2067349079646990604" social-type="twitter" /][p]Conceicao said Ronaldo is seen as "just another member of the squad" which needed "every individual for the collective to function".[/p][p][b]"Cristiano is an example because of his career and the hunger he still possesses at 41 years of age... An example of leadership and the goals he scores,"[/b] the Juventus player said during a press conference.[/p][p][b]"There is no one like him when it comes to scoring goals... He is here to help, just like any other player."[/b][/p][embed guid="0b215dda-66e3-4df3-ae73-680134766551" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2067325237302108333" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/portugal-WvJrjFVN/uzbekistan-EZYKKRMc/summary/stats/?mid=nRFcNx7D"]Portugal play Uzbekistan[/a] in their second Group K match in Houston on Tuesday, desperately looking for three points to get their campaign up and running.[/p][p][b]"No one takes it harder than we do. We felt firsthand that we didn't do our job in the best possible way," [/b]Conceicao said.[/p][p][b]"If things don't go well, there will be more pressure and more criticism. We want to show our quality and win the next match."[/b][/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /]