In a pre-match press conference ahead of the Nations League game between Portugal and Norway, Bruno Fernandes discussed the team's adaptation to Jorge Jesus's tactical philosophy, his positioning on the pitch, and the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo. He stated there are no divisions within the Portuguese national team and called on fans to stop picking sides. Here is an excerpt from the press conference.

Bruno, let's talk about the Norway match. You couldn't help the team in the first meeting between the two sides. From what you saw then, what do you hope will be different in tomorrow's game? In the last match, everyone said Portugal needed to know how to handle the pressure. What do you need to do to feel less pressured?

Back then, we really had to deal with genuine pressure. That was because of Norway's strength. The coach has said several times here that they're a very strong team with top players who can create problems for us.

I think we should appreciate and give credit to our defensive work as well. We defended well in that match. We may have given our opponents more chances than expected, but at the same time, our defense was very effective. Every match has areas for improvement, and the last one was no exception. Even though our result improved and everyone thinks our performance was better, I believe what matters most is always the result. Winning away is increasingly difficult. Those three points were very important for us on this journey. Hopefully tomorrow we'll get another three points to get closer to our objective.

Reporter SIC: The last time you played for Portugal here, you scored a hat-trick, and João Neves scored one too. You've mentioned that João Neves once asked you to let him take a free kick. All this suggests you're one of the leaders in the dressing room. How have you spoken with your teammates this week about what's been happening? For example, how have you talked with João Neves? Also, please speak about the new system Coach Jesus is implementing with the Portuguese national team. Do you think a player like João Neves might have fewer opportunities in this system?

I'll answer the last part first. Whether players get opportunities or not depends on the coach's decisions. Fortunately, it's not up to me, because Portugal has many excellent players. I think we can only benefit from this because it shows our team is at a very high level.

We have players who can play in different positions and can even be on the pitch together, just like they were in the last match. For example, João Neves, Vitinha, Neves, myself, and Félix were all on the pitch together, and these players can all play in very similar positions. I think that's very good for us.

Being part of the Portuguese national team is something excellent in itself. I think whether you get more or less playing time, you shouldn't think negatively. We all want to play. We're usually starters at our clubs, and when we come to the Portuguese national team, everyone wants to represent their country. Everyone wants to be a starter. Everyone wants to play in different matches. That's why we're here, and also to make the coach's job harder and his decisions increasingly difficult.

On the other matters, I want to try to clarify this topic so there might not be any more questions about it. Let me get straight to the point.

I don't think I need to speak with my teammates about this. We all know how to manage our own situations. What's happening now with the Portuguese national team isn't about the players. I think the most important role we can play is to deliver on the pitch.

About Cristiano Ronaldo, I've spoken with him. What I told him, I'll repeat here: no matter what happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will always be the most important symbol of the Portuguese national team. He's the most important symbol of Portuguese football, and without a doubt—not "perhaps," but certainly—the most important symbol of our country. This is because of everything he's done, not just for Portugal but worldwide. I think he shouldn't doubt for a second that he has his place—not just among the greatest players in history, but in the hearts of every Portuguese person.

The most important thing now is that we shouldn't divide into factions because there are no divisions within the Portuguese national team. There is only the Portuguese national team, and there always will be. No matter what noise or turmoil comes from outside, I think every family should solve its own problems at home. The Portuguese national team should operate the same way, and I believe we will.

I'm confident that this will ultimately be resolved properly, with a good outcome for everyone involved. We're not part of this situation. All we know is what you report and what we see ourselves. To be honest, we spend most of our time playing cards in the players' lounge rather than watching TV, so we know very little about the various controversies surrounding this issue.

But I want to appeal again: the country shouldn't divide. Don't let everyone take sides. Instead, let everyone come together, respect each other, and accept all sides. At the same time, as I've said, Cristiano Ronaldo will always be the most important figure for the Portuguese national team, Portuguese football, and world football. Whether people like him more or less, he deserves respect from every Portuguese person.

Reporter Sport TV: After the last match, Jorge Jesus said he spoke with you. I believe it was at halftime—he sat next to you—and correct me if I'm wrong. That conversation was about the influence you should have in the Portuguese national team's game, because the position you play is one Jesus has repeatedly said is very important in his team. What exactly did he ask of you? What do you need to do differently to deliver the performance Jesus wants to see?

Jesus: He did it in the second half of that match.

Bruno Fernandes: After being criticized, I actually performed well. I know the coach well and have worked with him before. He brought me to the big stage of Portuguese football, so I know what kind of demands to expect when working with him. I also know that sometimes I need to be criticized. Some criticism is justified, some less so.

However, I think he demands these things from me and other players because he believes in our abilities—in what we can do as players and what we can bring to the Portuguese national team. I also think my performance in the first half wasn't as good as in the second half. There are still areas to improve, even though the second half was better. There are still things to work on.

What the coach told me at halftime helped me improve in the second half. That's always a good thing—not just for me, but for my teammates as well, and for the final result of the match. That result was very good for us.

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