Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has denied any suggestions that he was influential in getting former manager Paulo Bento to leave the Seleccao helm.
The 45-year-old stepped down after the Iberian nation opened their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Albania, which followed a World Cup campaign that saw them eliminated at the group stage.
Ronaldo is quoted as saying by Goal.com: "These situations should be put to one side. I've always had good lessons from my coaches and I've learned from them. In football there are cycles and that of Paulo Bento ended in sadness for us.
"Over the past 11 years decisions have been made over the head coach of the national team and they are always taken by the president, never a player or group of players."
Fernando Santos is now the manager of Portugal.
