Portugal national team coach Jorge Jesus announced his first squad list since taking office and held a press conference. This is the third part of the press conference.

We've just discussed young players, and my colleague also mentioned Flávio Gonçalves and Rodrigo Mora. I understand you might temporarily leave these players with Luís Freire. However, I'd also like to ask about Messloub. He's a 16-year-old player from Lens. Have you considered bringing him into the senior Portugal national team in the future? Also, I have another question about midfield. Jorge Jesus's teams always feature a number 6 in a 4-4-2 system, often a diamond 4-4-2, with a more traditional number 6. For example, William Carvalho and William Arão in the past. So I want to ask: can João Neves play in this position? Will João Neves and Vitinha play together, or will Palhinha go straight into the starting lineup?

I can discuss the characteristics of these players, but I won't tell you who will start. Otherwise, you'd know who is playing before the players do.

What I can tell you is that these players have different characteristics, and the reason they are selected is because they fit my playing philosophy.

You're right. Typically, my teams have a deeper-lying midfielder—a midfielder who focuses more on positional awareness. Players in this position must have a good understanding of both phases of the game: offense and defense.

Generally, in my team, such players have very important tactical responsibilities.

You mentioned Palhinha but not Neves. Neves can also play this position, and play it very well. In recent years, he played this position under me at Al Hilal. So to answer your question, this is indeed part of the system's characteristics and playing style.

If we're to talk about my philosophy, you must first have a playing style. At the same time, you must also have a set of requirements for player types. And then you have to have another mode—but now is not the time to discuss it—which is the training mode.

My question is: did you experience much hesitation when compiling your first national team squad? Did you refer to the last World Cup squad, hoping to find answers there? What was the overall process like?

Yes, both aspects. I looked at the World Cup squad. Portugal can't assemble two national teams at completely the same level, right? In fact, Germany can't either. But Klopp did that—he essentially picked two teams.

What I really want to say is that I looked at the abilities of the players Portugal currently has, and I also looked at those who participated in the World Cup. At the same time, I also looked at those who didn't.

What I need to consider is which other players can be included in our selection. Ultimately, we come back to the same question: can the characteristics of these players match the playing philosophy we want the national team to adopt? Basically, this thinking guided me in completing this list.

We've mentioned many times that there aren't many personnel changes this time. But even for players who continue in the national team, such as Félix and Leão, they may take on different roles under your playing style. For these continuing players, does your playing style give them different scope to perform? What can they add to Portugal? Also, what can players like Nuno Tavares or Samuel Soares bring to Portugal's game?

This question links to the previous one about young players. For example, Samuel.

Samuel is a 24-year-old goalkeeper. Compared to the several goalkeepers previously in the national team's selection range, he is younger.

In addition to Diogo Costa, Rui Silva and José Sá were also frequently called up. For this reason, we want to include a younger goalkeeper in the selection of three goalkeepers.

As for João and Rafael, you put it very well. Félix has characteristics that align very well with my playing philosophy. For me, Félix is not a winger. At least in my opinion, that is not his best position. Of course, this doesn't mean that in some games, according to tactical adjustments, he can't play there at all.

But João will always be a secondary striker and can also be a centre-forward. In fact, as time goes on, I believe Félix will increasingly become a centre-forward. I have no doubt about that. His finishing ability is excellent, and in his areas, his ability to find and create space is also outstanding.

As for Rafael Leão, this is also very interesting. When I coached him, he never played as a winger. He was always the centre-forward. In fact, when I brought him up to Sporting CP's first team against Porto, I had him play as centre-forward. He scored one of Sporting CP's goals in that match. This precisely illustrates the characteristics of these two players and how I can deploy them in different positions based on their strengths.

I have two questions. You continue to call up Gonçalo Inácio, but he seems to be having difficulties at Sporting CP at the moment. Also, Rafael Leão has only around 100 minutes of playing time this season so far. Why did you decide to keep them in the squad? Another question: how have you spent the first few months as national team coach? You've been working, but you haven't really led the team in training. I imagine this might be something you've never experienced in your coaching career. Also, have you communicated with your predecessor Roberto Martínez during these months?

No. To this day, I have not spoken with Roberto Martínez. As for this transition, it's actually not complicated for me at all.

Because our work consists of one training cycle after another. Of course, at club level, sometimes there are even two training cycles a day—meaning two training sessions a day.

So I adapted very easily. These days, I come to the federation every morning to continue working. My coaching staff and I have been preparing constantly. We've been brainstorming different things, preparing what we consider important—not just training-related matters, but also things beyond training.

As for my colleague, I already addressed that. What was your other question?

Gonçalo Inácio.

Yes, Inácio and Rafael Leão. I've already discussed Rafael Leão—I know him very well.

I don't need to watch him play many games. I just need him to be able to play. If he has no playing time at all, it would certainly be difficult to include him in the national team squad.

As for Gonçalo Inácio, I consider what he has done for the national team in recent years and what he has done for his club over the years. You just said he's not in a very good phase. That's your opinion.

My opinion is different. When I evaluate a player, I first look at his ability. As for whether a player is in good form during a certain period, that's very normal in a season. Our call-ups are primarily based on the player's ability.

But it doesn't matter. If you think Gonçalo isn't playing well right now and then ask why I still call him up, my answer is: because I believe in his characteristics and I believe he can play very well under me.

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