Martinez explains why he left Ronaldo on the bench for the Nations League match against Scotland

The head coach of the Portugal national team, Roberto Martinez, has explained why he opted to leave forward Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for the Nations League match against Scotland.

"This is a tactical decision. I want to manage our players' energy levels when we are playing two matches within 72 hours. In the game against Croatia, Cristiano made the most sprints, and it's simply a matter of preserving the player by keeping him as a substitute.

He is our captain and understands how important this is for us. Managing our resources is vital. We have four new players in the starting lineup, and two others have played 45 minutes each. Cristiano had an excellent game against Croatia, and it's important to rest him," Martinez told RTP.

The match is taking place at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon.