Speaking to reporters in Qatar, Bruno Fernandes said: "Do you think anyone likes to be on the bench? I don't think Cristiano Ronaldo would be happy. If the manager put me on the bench in the next game, I would be angry.
"We won the first two games with Cristiano in the first XI, and it could be that if Cristiano played, he could score three goals and no one would be speaking about Cristiano being on the bench.
"Cristiano is doing his job, he's doing his part. He's happy with the result because the goal for everyone is to go as far as possible. I don’t think people should be talking about Cristiano and why he's not playing.
"When Cristiano plays and the team wins, no one talks about that. When Cristiano plays and the team loses, everyone talks. He' the most famous player in the world. No one is more famous than Cristiano in sports."
Ronaldo was benched for Portugal's crucial World Cup Round of 16 clash against Switzerland on Tuesday after failing to impress in the group stages.
Fernando Santos' men won the game 6–1 with Cristiano coming off the bench and having his goal called off for offside. It remains to be seen whether the 37-year-old will start against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
