Vitinha, champion of FC Porto and current PSG player, recommended that the Portuguese leaders talk more about players and coaches than about other matters.
“When you start talking about everything that is not the player, the football played, that is not positive. It is not positive for anyone. We have a lot of quality in players, coaches, we have raw material and we should talk about it and talk less about everything the rest,” he said at a press conference.
The player spoke to journalists at a press conference at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, minutes before another training session for the national team, which is preparing for the Group J match scheduled for Friday in Bratislava, a game that Vitinha considers important. for the final accounts of the group.
“It’s going to be the biggest challenge we’ve had so far because it’s a good team and because it’s also an away game. We have a good atmosphere to play, but a difficult game that will demand a lot from us, will require our maximum attention, commitment and quality,” he added.
The midfielder recalled that Portugal could be close to qualifying for the 2024 soccer Eurocup if they win the next two games and assumed that the closing of the transfer market gives the players another peace of mind.
“We were mentally calm after the market closed. This took a cloud out of our heads for all of us. Now we have the game in Slovakia, perhaps the biggest challenge so far. They are in second place and only conceded one goal. We expect difficulties, still more. with them playing at home”, he stated.
“We know we can be close to qualifying with two wins. I think we’ll be just one point away from qualifying. That’s what we want. Against Slovakia we want to be dominant and press hard when we don’t have the ball. That’s what we’ll try to do. ”, he stressed.
Asked if the Portuguese team is, with coach Roberto Martínez, a closed group in which few new players have a chance of being called up, Vitinha rejected that idea and guaranteed that “everyone can make it” to the team.
“Anyone who says it’s a closed group is wrong. The door is open for people to come in and out. Whoever is here, if they don’t do their best, leaves easily. Those who didn’t come, have to continue to give what they can.” better for his club”, he referred.
Vitinha, 23, who is living his second season at Paris Saint-Germain, assumed that he had won “another padding” on the French shield.
The Portuguese soccer team continues this Tuesday preparing for Friday’s duel in Slovakia, qualifying for the final phase of Euro2024, after a first training session ‘at half throttle’, with several absences.
On Monday, at the start of work at the Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, coach Roberto Martínez had only 13 of the 24 players called up, with captain Cristiano Ronaldo, defender Rúben Dias, midfielder Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Diogo Costa among the group. which only carried out recovery work.
Pedro Neto, the novelty in the Spanish coach’s squad, did not know how to prepare either.
Portugal faces Slovakia, in Bratislava, on September 8 and, three days later, on September 11, they receive Luxembourg, in the Algarve.
After four rounds, the team leads Group J, with 12 points, adding only victories, ahead of Slovakia, second ranked, with 10, and Luxembourg, third, with seven. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland have three points, while Liechtenstein is down to zero.
The first two places in the group give direct access to the final phase of the Eurocup, which will take place next year in Germany.
Source: TSF
