By Chris O'Brien
November 15 2005

Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted that he will not be told when to rest his players on the international stage. The Portugal boss is thought to have been left enraged by requests from Sir Alex Ferguson to use winger Ronaldo sparingly. Sir Alex Ferguson looks set to find himself in the centre of a public row with Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The United boss is believed to have demanded that the troubled winger be used only sparingly in Portugal’s friendlies against Croatia and Northern Ireland.

Scolari started Ronaldo on Saturday before he was forced to withdraw the player through a knee injury on 75 minutes. This has been shaken off and the youngster looks certain to start against the Ulstermen on Wednesday as the Portuguese continue their preparation for the 2006 World Cup.

"Perhaps I should say 'these are only friendlies, don't try too hard - don't get injured - then you can all go back to your clubs in perfect condition'. No chance - I'm fed up with people trying to pressure me about who I pick." said a frustrated Scolari, who has had confrontations with Sir Alex over picking Ronaldo in the past.

The club v. country row has enraged club and international managers for years, with the demand of players at club level increasingly all the time. Ferguson has regularly voiced concerns over players’ participation in friendlies with their countries, but will face a war with Scolari if he wants to protect his teenage sensation.