Portugal manager Fernando Santos said that he would not change his decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench even after his team was knocked-out from the World Cup due to a 1-0 defeat against Morocco in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Portugal's all-time leading goal scorer with 118 goals in 195 appearances, Ronaldo was benched for Tuesday’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16 where the 21-year-old Ramos scored three in only his fourth appearance.
Ronaldo stormed off the pitch after the final whistle crying effusively while being comforted by his team-mates.
"I do not regret [leaving Ronaldo on the bench]," coach Santos told a news conference.
"It wouldn't change anything, in terms of the team I can't be thinking with my heart.
"I used the team that played really well against Switzerland and there was no reason to change it [against Morocco].
"The strategic decision that I had to make was one of the hardest, but I can't think with my heart, I have to think with my head.
"It's not that Ronaldo is no longer a great player, that has nothing to do with it."
Morocco's Atlas Lions extended their dream run and roared into the history books by becoming the first-ever African and Arab country to reach the final four of the tournament thanks to a Youssef En-Nesyri goal in the first half.
Santos refused to comment on whether he will resign and said that he will talk to the Portuguese FA president over the next week about his future.
He said his team had difficulties finding spaces between the disciplined Moroccan defensive lines, and he praised their opponents for their effort, saying it was "completely their merit."
"Sometimes in football what you need is a little bit of luck," Santos said.
"We showed effort and quality, had several chances to score with Joao Felix, and Bruno Fernandes hit the bar, Pepe had a header in the end that could have been the equaliser... A bit of luck was missing."
Pepe meanwhile may find himself in hot water with FIFA after question the appointment and impartiality Argentine referee Facundo Tello.
He said: "I'm going to have to say it. It's unacceptable for an Argentine referee to referee our game. After what happened yesterday, with Messi talking, all of Argentina talking and the referee comes here.
"What did we play the second half? The goalkeeper dropped to the ground. There were only eight minutes of stoppage time. We worked hard and the referee eight minutes?
"We didn't play anything in the second half. The only team that played football was us. We are sad. We had the quality to win the World Cup and we didn't manage to."
Meanwhile Walid Regragui's said Morocco can go even further in the tournament and continue making history as they seek to inspire future generations.
"What's important for future generations is we've shown that it is possible for an African team to get to the semi-finals of the World Cup. Or even the final, why not?" the Morocco coach told reporters.
"In one press conference three or four matches ago, I was asked we could win the World Cup. And I said, 'Why not?' We can dream. Why shouldn't we dream? If you don't dream, you don't get anywhere. It doesn't cost you anything.
"European countries are used to winning the World Cup, so we're going to have to try and get in there, and go beyond ourselves."
Having already made a mockery of their unfancied status after topping a tough Group F ahead of Croatia and Belgium, Morocco toppled Spain on penalties before taking down Portugal to continue their extraordinary run.
They will once again be up against European giants in their bid to rewrite history, taking on France or England, who play later, on Wednesday for a place in the final.
"The message I'm trying to get to the players is to be confident, go out there and give everything, and have no regrets. And they believed me," Regragui said.
"Of course it's great to come to the World Cup, to play those three group stage games. We have elite players, and we have a team that can win games at the World Cup. Sometimes you exaggerate things, but they actually believed it and they've now shown that they are capable of performing at this level."
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