Roberto Martinez & Vitinha on Portugal's qualifier in Scotland
Roberto Martinez & Vitinha on Portugal's qualifier in Scotland
14/10/2024
Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
14/10/2024
Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Category
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SportTranscript
00:30I'll start with the Portuguese journalists and then I'll go to the international press.
00:40We'll have to answer, we'll have to have translation.
00:44Can I speak in English?
00:47The first ones in Portuguese.
00:55Hello, Viquinho. How are you?
00:58You didn't play in Poland, I guess you know what's going to happen tomorrow.
01:03We'll wait for tomorrow, I hope so.
01:05I'm ready, but we'll wait for tomorrow.
01:19Hello, Viquinho. Good afternoon.
01:20João Bibi for Bola TV.
01:24Viquinho has a new teammate in Paris Saint-Germain, João Mendes, also in the national team.
01:31How did you see his quick adaptation in Paris Saint-Germain and also in the national team?
01:37And if in the future we'll see a duo from the national team formed by Viquinho and João Mendes?
01:47I already had the opportunity to speak in another interview about his evolution and how important he is for us in Paris.
01:57He's been really good and I hope he continues to help us.
02:02He's humble, full of quality and as a person he's also a star.
02:07I also wish him the best of luck here, as I wish the other media.
02:15I also had the opportunity to say before the conference that we have a lot of quality.
02:21In all the sectors that I respect, we have a lot of quality.
02:28It's wonderful for Portugal to have so many quality players in one position.
02:33Because they always keep us at the top.
02:36We know that we always have to be in the best conditions, perform and have a good performance.
02:41Because otherwise there are other great players who want to play.
03:11As I've already stated in a much previous picture of the national team, he's a player that he's developing.
03:18I'd like to highlight that he's important in Paris.
03:22I hope that he carries on that way.
03:25He's a player of high quality, as I did mention.
03:28I wish him the very best.
03:30Although I want to highlight that we have other wonderful players as well in the same position.
03:36This is a sector, like others, full of wonderful players.
03:41It's marvellous to be surrounded by so many great secondary fielders.
03:45Because we know that if we don't put on the best performance, we may see another player come into play in the next match.
03:56Other than that, all the players are great.
04:05You said that you're going to be disappointed by the Croatian contract.
04:09In a way, is that going to affect the start of the season for PSG as well?
04:14How are you feeling at the moment?
04:17It always ends up affecting me.
04:19Because we failed in the games.
04:21And that's what makes me even more confused.
04:23Even at my age.
04:26I still consider myself young.
04:30It makes me confused to fail in the games.
04:32It makes me confused to be away from home.
04:34I always want to help.
04:36I want to be available, both in the club and in the national team.
04:38So, when that happens, it's always difficult.
04:40Of course, it affects a bit to be away from home, when we always want to be inside.
04:44But when it comes to playing on the pitch, it doesn't make a difference.
04:51That's why I want to be there.
04:54I want to help and play.
04:56So, I think that playing on the pitch won't make a big difference.
05:05Previous fixture, you got an injury versus Croatia.
05:09Did it affect your beginning of the season?
05:12How are you, the response?
05:14Of course, it did.
05:16I didn't miss the game.
05:18It affects when you are a young player.
05:21Yes, I still consider myself a somewhat young player.
05:23I am someone that always wants to play.
05:25So, it did affect a little bit.
05:28Although, when I have to start, when things are different.
05:33Because I always have the will, always have the play, always want to help.
05:37So, I would say that, yes, it did have an impact.
05:41But I am ready now.
05:43Rodrigo?
05:44Hello, Vitinha.
05:45Fernando Henrique, Antena 1.
05:46You spoke about the great capacity that the Portuguese national team has.
05:49I presume that it is more in the technical side.
05:52So, going into the game, I ask you if one of the trump cards tomorrow
05:56could be Portugal running away a little bit from the physical game.
05:59Which will be more suitable for the success?
06:02Yes, and I am not referring only to the technical aspect.
06:05I think we have everything.
06:07We have strength, we have intelligence, we have technique, we have speed.
06:11I think we are a team with a very complete range of players.
06:15That complement each other very well.
06:17And to answer your question, I think it is really the best.
06:21I think that tomorrow, giving priority to the technical part,
06:26to the control of the game, not to enter that game divided,
06:30which will be the strength of the back, for sure.
06:33To have more control of the game, as I said,
06:36to know what we do with the ball.
06:38I think that will be the most important thing.
06:50Question to the player.
06:52One of the capacities that you mentioned is technical-wise.
06:56Will that be a point that you want to explore tomorrow
07:00in order to escape the physical side of the Scottish national team?
07:04The response.
07:05It is not just technical-wise.
07:07We are a team that has strength, we have pace, we have skills,
07:10we have tactical skills as well.
07:12We do have a quite complete team.
07:16So, rather than that, tomorrow we plan to focus as well on technical aspects.
07:21Maybe try not to enter into that physical game
07:24that is known for the Scottish team.
07:27I think that will be important if you have this point of the game
07:31in order to face the future of tomorrow.
07:40Fabio Silva, I believe you played with him at Wolves.
07:43He spent last year at Glasgow Changers.
07:46Have you spoken with him about the atmosphere,
07:48about the experience of playing at the hand?
07:53Yes, I did play with him.
07:54I did not speak with him about the atmosphere.
07:57It's a thing that I already knew.
08:01And then we were advised of the atmosphere,
08:04we were advised of the environment in these games,
08:09in this kind of games, in this stadium.
08:13And we are ready for it.
08:16Portugal needed a late goal at Ronaldo
08:20to get a victory over Scotland and Lisbon last month.
08:24Was there anything about the Scotland performance
08:27that surprised or impressed you in that game?
08:31And any players, particularly on the Scotland side,
08:35that you feel Portugal have to be wary of at hand?
08:42We already watched and talked about the strength of Scotland.
08:49We already have the reference of the first match.
08:53We know which of the players are key,
08:58which things we have to do to break the dynamics from the Scottish team.
09:04And if you want me to speak about one player,
09:07it's a little bit unfair.
09:09But in my taste, personally, I like a lot Billy Gilmer.
09:15And I think it's very important to the Scottish team.
09:19But then it's not about one player, it's about the team.
09:22It's about the physicality that they have.
09:25And we know what we have to do to break that.
09:28What do you think of Gilmer?
09:31I like a lot the way he plays.
09:33I can see that he's a very intelligent player.
09:37And I just like it, yeah.
09:39Is he not what you would call a typical Scottish player in that sense?
09:43He's not a physical, fairly competent player.
09:46Maybe, maybe it's a little bit of...
09:50It's different regarding the way the team play.
09:54But I think he adds a lot to this team.
09:57You've spoken quite a lot...
09:58Hold on, just a minute.
09:59Let's put some more learning in it.
10:01Last question, because he has to go.
10:04Go ahead.
10:05You've spoken quite a lot about the physical nature of Scotland's style.
10:09Is that the only attribute they have?
10:14Do you think they have skillful and technical players as well?
10:17Yeah, of course.
10:18It's not...
10:19When I talk physical about being the main characteristic
10:25or the prime thing you look at Scotland,
10:29it's not that they don't have the rest of it.
10:31Of course not.
10:32It's just that I think that's the most dangerous aspect
10:36that they can harm us.
10:41And that's, I think, the aspect that we have to look at and have attention.
10:47But still, we have to equal that physicality as well in the duels
10:53because we know that we're not going to achieve
10:59to get away from the physicality of the Scotland team always.
11:05So when that comes, the duels come, we have to win it as well.
11:09OK, I'm going to thank you all.
11:11I'm going to thank you for your presence.
11:12I'm going to excuse myself for a bit because I have to go.
11:29How are you?
11:30I'm fine.
11:31Nice to meet you.
11:34We're going to start the press conference with the national team members,
11:38Roberto MartÃnez.
11:39I'm going to start with Luz again.
11:43Hello, Roberto MartÃnez.
11:44How are you?
11:45Hello.
11:46Vitinha just said something interesting.
11:48I'd like to...
11:49Vitinha always says interesting things.
11:52He said he received advice because of the client he met at the stadium.
11:56I'd like to talk a bit about that.
11:58Did he say something to the players?
12:00He just said that it was something they had to discuss.
12:04Good afternoon.
12:06I think it's part of the challenge of playing games away from home.
12:11We've already said that it's not easy to play two games away from home,
12:1672 hours, exhausted stadiums.
12:19And we talked about the atmosphere in Poland.
12:22I think we showed good personality.
12:25But I think Handem's atmosphere is even stronger.
12:29What happens is that it's important that we can be ourselves
12:33in an environment where Handem helps the home team a lot.
12:39We're talking about Moscow, who won against Spain.
12:43It's a team that's growing a lot and believes a lot in what they do.
12:49So what the environment can help is important for us to prepare
12:55and show personality, as we did against Poland.
12:58I think it's good preparation for us.
13:01But Handem is a stadium that you need to win before winning the game.
13:20I believe it's part of the game to play in this atmosphere.
13:25It's hard to play two games away in 72 hours.
13:31I think the atmosphere in Poland is tough.
13:35However, here the atmosphere is even better.
13:38It's important to be ourselves.
13:41Scotland here did win against Spain.
13:44Scotland is a national team that is improving.
13:48Scotland is a team that has a high belief in themselves.
13:52The atmosphere at Handem is tough.
13:56I believe that we must show our personality first and foremost tomorrow.
14:02I wanted to ask you about the atmosphere.
14:07Scotland is a team that is losing in the end.
14:13They're winning and scoring goals.
14:16It's a good observation.
14:19We saw it in the game against Scotland in Lisbon.
14:23It's a competitive team.
14:25They give everything until the end.
14:27It's a penalty against Poland in the 94th minute.
14:31They scored a goal against Croatia in the last minute.
14:35It didn't go up on the scoreboard.
14:38It's a team that has players with a lot of technical quality in the central area.
14:44It's a team with quick attacks.
14:46It's a very physical team that can use the ball.
14:50We respect what Scotland can do.
14:54I don't think the results show what they've done so far.
15:25Yes, that was a good observation.
15:28In Lisbon, they did show that they are competitive.
15:31Against Poland, they have conceded a goal in the 94th minute.
15:35Against Croatia, they scored a late goal.
15:38Sadly for them, it didn't count.
15:40Scotland is a team of high quality.
15:44They have skillful players on the midfield.
15:46They have strong players physically as well.
15:50I believe that we must show, and we do have a lot of respect for Scotland,
15:54that the results do not reflect on what they did.
16:01This is an element that we must take into account for tomorrow.
16:08Good afternoon, Roberto.
16:09Hello, Ricardo.
16:11What do you think of the last game against Poland?
16:13Did you see Renato's performance?
16:15He did very well in front of a player with a very good position.
16:20Do you think that tomorrow, in front of the fans,
16:22we can expect a return from the central midfielders?
16:27Not necessarily.
16:29The important thing now is to increase the number of players
16:36that can help the national team.
16:38I think that Renato did that.
16:40He showed that he is a player with an incredible future,
16:44but also a present to help, as he did against Poland.
16:49But we have other central midfielders.
16:51Now, as we are already doing,
16:55we have been doing in other stages,
16:58to manage the players,
17:00to use players that have good energy.
17:03We have players that made a physical effort against Poland,
17:07that were spectacular.
17:09Tomorrow, we need players with energy,
17:13and also not to put the risk of injuries on the players in 72 hours.
17:20So, Real Madrid is the first starting eleven in the national team,
17:25and it is quality in quantity.
17:28So, I really liked what he did,
17:30and he showed that there is competitive football in this position for the future.
17:38Very long answers, eh?
17:41No, it's fine, it's fine.
17:49A question.
17:51Versus Poland, you did use,
17:55and you highlighted the performance of Renato Weber,
17:59which had a tough opponent, Robert Lewandowski.
18:03Can you guarantee us he will play tomorrow, the response?
18:07Not necessarily.
18:09The importance is that we have other players.
18:12Renato Weber did show that he's capable,
18:15he did show that he's able to help the team.
18:17He did show that he's a player of bright future.
18:21He also has a great present.
18:23We've got different players,
18:25like other fixtures in the past.
18:28We are likely to change the players,
18:31because I want to add players who have good energy.
18:34Some players, they had tremendous effort versus Poland,
18:38so they may need to rest.
18:41My point is also to avoid injuries.
18:44Renato Weber did an excellent game.
18:46He did show that this team is competitive in this sector,
18:51for the present and for the future.
18:54Hello.
18:56I'm João Pimpim, for Jornal da Bola.
19:00I'd like to clarify something that has been misunderstood
19:06during the last days.
19:08When you said that Florentino, the player of Benfica,
19:12that the players also have to feel and want to come to the national team.
19:15There are news that says that Florentino has refused
19:20several times the selection of Angola.
19:22There are friends and family who say that he's anxious
19:24for this first call.
19:26Is there any contradiction here?
19:28I don't know if you'd like to clarify this situation a little better.
19:31I think it's important to clarify.
19:33The first point is Florentino's talent.
19:36He's a player with a talent that we like a lot.
19:39We are following the player during my arrival at the federation.
19:47But I talked about two players in general
19:51who can represent different national teams.
19:55I said that the player is important,
19:58that the player has a desire and a feeling
20:04of wanting to play for our national team.
20:06I wasn't talking about Florentino.
20:08My information is that Florentino likes to play for the national team of Portugal.
20:15He already did this with a lot of success in the national teams.
20:22Therefore, we have to continue with the process.
20:26Without a doubt, he has the qualities to play for the national team.
20:41There's a question that should be clarified.
20:44Florentino, you mentioned previously that whoever wants to play for the national team
20:49must have that wish.
20:52We have heard some rumors saying that Florentino
20:55didn't refuse the possibility of playing with Angola national team,
20:59which has been backed up also by his friends and family.
21:03What do you have to say about it?
21:05Firstly, my first point that I want to highlight
21:08is the high talent of Florentino Luiz.
21:12It's a player that we like him quite a lot.
21:15We have been following him since my arrival here at the National Federation.
21:20When I say that quote, I was not talking about Florentino.
21:25I was speaking in general, each player and also to the players
21:29that has other options in terms of nations to play.
21:32One important indicator to play for the national team
21:36is to have love for the nation.
21:38I was not specifically targeting Florentino,
21:41which is a player that I know that loves to play for Portugal.
21:44He did play a lot of times.
21:47He has had a lot of success with Portugal national team at youth level.
21:50He has tremendous qualities and without any shadow of doubt
21:56that he is an excellent player.
21:59We shall go now to the Scottish press.
22:03I ask you one question each because we are almost on time.
22:07Roberto, hi there.
22:09Can I ask you, you talked about the improved performances from Scotland
22:13yet no wins.
22:15Do you have quite a lot of sympathy for Steve Clarke
22:18and from what you've seen in Scotland, will it come good?
22:21Absolutely, I've got no doubts.
22:23It's just a difficult press conference for me to show sympathy
22:26that tomorrow I want to win the game.
22:28But absolutely, I think Scotland has come up with a formula
22:32of a high-energy game that has got a lot of quality
22:35and to get that mixture is very difficult.
22:38For now you've got high-quality players in any central position.
22:42A team that takes very little to score goals, as we saw in Lisbon.
22:47They're a team very well organised in their ball situations,
22:50quick counter-attacks, and then they've got the quality of players
22:54like McTominay, Gilmour, that they got a real excellent final pass.
22:57So I've got no doubts.
22:59Steve Clarke is building something very special.
23:01We already achieved a very successful team,
23:03very qualified for the European Championship.
23:05And now it feels that it's almost a new cycle
23:09and the results will come if the performances stay at this level.
23:13Roberto, you've had some success here in Scotland with Belgium.
23:17You've now had it last month with the Sports School team.
23:20Your Scottish in-laws, are they still speaking with you?
23:23I think we are in that period of respectful silence.
23:27No, it's the fifth time we're playing against each other.
23:29I think we've got into the compromise.
23:31They're going to be wearing the kilt and the Portuguese top.
23:33So I think I'm quite happy now. It's been easy.
23:36Roberto, you mentioned how difficult it is to play two away games
23:41in international football in the space of four days.
23:44Is it unreasonable to expect a 39-year-old to start for the second time in four days?
23:50Do you envisage that Ronaldo may be coming on as a substitute tomorrow night
23:55like he did in Lisbon?
23:56I think your remarks make total sense.
24:01But I think the age of a player doesn't come to play.
24:04Ronaldo doesn't work as a 39-year-old player.
24:09He doesn't play, certainly, as a 39-year-old player.
24:12I think we're assessing every player and how they feel.
24:16Cristiano's been working really well in this camp.
24:19I think the difficulty of playing two games away from home is more
24:23how can you prepare between the two games?
24:25How can you recover with the players?
24:28And I feel that we've got 26 players.
24:30That was the decision to be able to use.
24:34We'll have a team to start the game, a team to finish the game
24:37and then even another group of players that can come in in the second game.
24:41So I'm confident that we can carry on adding information.
24:46I've got no doubt that Cristiano, after 60 minutes, can be involved in the second game.
24:50I don't know if he can start or if he can finish the game,
24:53but he can certainly be involved, as he showed in the last camp.
24:57Were you surprised at how well Scotland played?
25:01No surprise, no. I think we expected that.
25:04If you want, obviously, you can see the goal that's in the first action that they had.
25:11At that point, the game becomes very, very difficult.
25:14We saw Scotland play very brave eye-to-eye against Poland the game before,
25:19so I wasn't surprised at all.
25:22I think now you grow in a belief that this team has got more than one threat.
25:28I think that's probably what Steve Clarke is working to get into a team
25:33that takes very little to score.
25:35It's got a very dynamic and physical outlook.
25:39Roberto, I know you will be used to it by now,
25:42but what is it like when you have Ronaldo in the squad and you turn up at the training ground today
25:45and there are hundreds of people here all the time just looking to see him?
25:49Obviously, there are two aspects.
25:52I manage the Cristiano Ronaldo that is trying to work hard to help the team to win tomorrow.
25:57When you arrive in a stadium, in a place like this,
26:01I think you get to know the iconic figure and the career of a player that is unique.
26:09There is no other player with more than 200 caps at international level.
26:13It's an example of the number of goals that he scored, the trophies that he achieved.
26:18So I think for me it's very easy to manage a player that can help the team to win tomorrow.
26:24All the rest is something for all of us to enjoy because it's a unique case
26:28and I think we can all learn from being close to him.
26:32Thank you very much.