A victory over Uruguay (7 p.m., RTP1) already guarantees Portugal a place in the round of 16 of the World Cup, which would be the fourth time in eight participations, in a game in which the selection has scores to settle with the South Americans – it was against Uruguay in Russia 2018, in the round of 16, with a 2-1 defeat. Some changes are expected for today’s game, but the only one confirmed by Santos was Pepe replacing the injured Danilo.
Bernardo Silva’s press conference (which preceded Santos’) was so rich in tactical explanations and game moments that the coach resorted to several examples in his approach, praising the “lesson” of the attacking midfielder: “He said it all. It could have been the coach, he answered better than me. Bernardo Silva taught here, including me”.
In addition to various analyses, Bernardo explained why he thought he played a good game against Ghana, explaining that players are free to read the game and make their own decisions, talking about the importance of versatility.
“I have to do what the game demands. If I feel the team needs me more in the build-up phase, I support the centre-backs, that’s what I have to do. If I can give more support at the front then I will also do it – I try to pull the boys. I will try to give other things if the game calls for it. I was satisfied with my performance against Ghana, when the team needed it I was there. If I score fewer goals , I will I have less assists and less goats and feints, it is of little importance. I want Portugal to win,” he analyzed.
When asked about this topic, the freedom of players on the field, Santos confirmed that it really exists, but with rules.
“They have total freedom to know how to reorganize the game. No yards, no name, no number. They know that possession is total creativity. It doesn’t matter who is more to the right or in the center. What matters is, in this anarchy, not easy to lose the ball and the ability to recover. And when the opponent has possession, we are organized defensively. That’s what I want, we evolve well and rely on that system,” he explained.
2018 still in mind
After Bernardo gave his opinion on the Uruguay national team – “a difficult team, very aggressive” – and drew attention to players like Darwin and Valverde, Santos confirmed that the 2018 game is still etched in his memory, but who this time expects a different outcome, against a Uruguay he considers equally strong.
“In 2018 they won, but they could have lost. Cavani and Suárez were five years younger, it was a great team, just like now. It is technically a very strong team, which knows very well what it wants.” who plays well in fast attack and puts the ball well on the back of the opponents. We have to be very careful, because he also calls the opponents with possession and presses hard. Let the opponent wrap up and fall asleep, to be able to squeeze difficult,” Santos analyzed.
Pepe “is a monster”
The coach did not open the game very much about the team that will take the field, leaving only one guarantee: given the unavailability of Danilo, Pepe will play. “He’s going to play tomorrow, there won’t be any problems. He’s a monster. If there’s anyone with such an important role in the dressing room, it’s him,” Santos shot in response to a question about the importance of the center back within the group, with doubts about Nuno Mendes and Otávio.
Unlike all other press conferences, Cristiano Ronaldo was only the subject of a question to Santos, about the weight of the word and the charge of CR7 within the group due to his status and quality as a captain. The coach admitted that the striker is in charge, but recalled that he trained players who were much more aggressive when it came to speaking.
“I coached players with stronger words. In every team there are players like that, authentic bosses. I coached them at Benfica, at Sporting, at FC Porto, in Greece. There are those who raise their arms more, less, but it the main thing is that the group knows how to deal with these problems. We have to know how to deal with everyone. There are players who are more shy, others who get along with more aggressive coaches… Ronaldo at the age of 19 was not so, João Pinto, Paulo Bento and Pedro Barbosa had a stronger word than him,” he said.
In the last game against Ghana, Cristiano Ronaldo and João Félix scored, but Rafael Leão got off to a good start in the second half. Will it be impossible for the three players to live together in the eleven? The answer came again based on statements made earlier by Bernardo Silva. “But is there anything impossible in football? Nobody comes with the number 1, 2 or 3 label. The game is what will decide. The question cannot be asked on an individual level. I have to look at the whole, that’s what we did.” with Ghana. It’s like Bernardo said,” explained the coach.
Source: DN
