Despite Portugal’s merciless 6-1 defeat of Switzerland, guaranteeing a place in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Cup, coach Fernando Santos tried to calm the crowd in the interview at the end of the game
Still on the lawn, he told broadcaster RTP that the Portuguese night was not perfect. “Not perfect, but it was a very well-conquered night. The team had attitude and concentration at all times of the game. It was a great game, but now the most important thing is to lower it”, he said.
Before the match, Santos explained why he left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, putting in his place Gonçalo Ramos, who scored three goals in the match.
“Strategic option. We had been preparing for a few days and it was a strategic question for this game. Different styles, different movements, nothing more than that”, he said upon arrival at the Lusail stadium.
Regarding the team’s performance against the Swiss, the captain was full of praise. “Team with great resourcefulness, with five players up front with great resourcefulness, to create spaces to be able to play. It is a balanced team, but with great resourcefulness”, he said.
Bruno Fernandes praises Cristiano Ronaldo’s posture
Coming off the bench, in the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a goal, which was disallowed for offside. According to midfielder Bruno Fernandes, the way the Portuguese idol accepted the coach’s decision to start on the bench was of paramount importance for the final result of the match.
“It’s difficult for anyone to be left out, but the important thing was the response he gave when he entered the field, giving his best and helping the team. He knows that this is important for us, because here the objective, whether for the Cristiano or anyone else, is to go as far as possible. Right now, it is to reach the semifinals, one game to go”, said Fernandes, who also congratulated striker Gonçalo Ramos.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he starts in the Cup. We are very happy for him, mainly because he helped us to reach the quarterfinals, but we were all important, all the players and the staff behind them.”
The Brazilian naturalized Portuguese Otávio also highlighted the strength of the Portuguese group.
“Here we are 26 players and everyone is important. It was no wonder that Gonçalo came in and did the job. We know the value of Cristiano, who is a world star, and who helped us a lot from the bench, encouraged us.”
About the victory, Fernandes emphasized that his selection managed to accomplish everything that was planned. “The result was elastic, but Switzerland played a good game. The result was due to what Portugal did, to the competitiveness we have.”
Morocco is already in the crosshairs
Great surprise of the round of 16, the selection of Morocco overcame Spain and was also guaranteed in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar, when it will face Portugal. For Bruno Fernandes, the African team is dangerous and needs to be studied very well.
“It’s a very competitive team, very aggressive, very compact, with a lot of speed and technique. It was first in the group, it’s important to say. energy, as we had that experience in the Nations Cup”, said he, who scored two goals in the victory over Uruguay, in the group stage.
“That’s why we have to be prepared to suffer, but we also have to be prepared to command the game. We have to focus now on our qualities, our abilities. I’m sure that if we are at our best level and are focused, we will come out of this game victory,” he concluded.
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