Portugal will host Norway in the fourth matchday of the UEFA Nations League. Ahead of the match, coach Jorge Jesus held a press conference, addressing topics such as Ronaldo, player fitness, and preparation for the match against Norway. This is the first part of the press conference.

We're live for Canal 11. You mentioned that Portugal's first match was poor, the second slightly better, and the third excellent. I'd like to know what your expectations are for the fourth match, against Norway? What kind of performance are you hoping to see from the team?

What do I want and what do I expect? I hope we can win, which would essentially secure our qualification for the quarter-finals. It would be even better if we could replicate the performance we had against Denmark in Copenhagen. We played exceptionally well in that match, with many moments demonstrating great quality, thanks also to the excellent individual abilities of our Portuguese players.

Those are the two things I most want to see. However, in football, what we want doesn't always happen. We can think it, but in some matches, it simply doesn't materialize. That's my expectation. I hope Portugal wins and secures direct qualification on home soil. That's what I most want to accomplish.

SIC journalist: Coach, hello. I know you don't want to discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's situation until after the match, but I'd like to know if you're ready to reconcile with Portugal's team captain?

But how do you know I'll wait until after the match to discuss it? I never said that.

So, are you ready to talk to us now about what happened between you and Cristiano Ronaldo?

No, of course not. The focus must be on the Portuguese national team; everything must prioritize the Portuguese national team. And Norway, because Norway is our opponent in this match. We need to concentrate on doing our job well, and we hope our people will support us, working toward the same flag and the same objective.

However, that doesn't mean I can ignore Ronaldo, nor should you. Ronaldo is a symbol of the Portuguese national team and a symbol of Portugal. That must be clear. As for your question, after the match, we'll have plenty of time to discuss this matter.

Sport TV journalist: Your team has experienced players, and one of them is sitting next to you (Bruno Fernandes), but there are also young players. These days, the whole world is paying attention to the Portuguese national team, but certainly not entirely for positive reasons. How do you manage the impact of such public opinion? What role have the experienced players played in that? Also, over the last twenty-four hours, the subject of "reconciliation" has circulated around the team. For you, is this something that doesn't even need discussion because you clearly want reconciliation? Or does a consensus need to be reached between the two sides first?

No. For now, I'll continue to focus on what I just said, keeping my attention on the team and our opponent. In my view, Norway is one of the top five teams in Europe, with very good players. You know that as well as I do. So we need to stay focused; that's the immediate issue at hand.

Then, we'll all have time to analyze what might happen. To answer your question about the young players, the new players for Portugal... you're talking about players, right? Or young people who don't play football?

As for Portugal's young players, we still have two more matches coming, and things could be different then. But first, we need to secure qualification tomorrow.

RTP journalist: When you answered the first question, you spoke about wanting to secure qualification at Estádio do Dragão. I'd like to know what kind of support and affection you hope to receive from the stands tomorrow? Also, have you been in contact with Portugal's team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, in recent days?

The support and affection I hope to receive should center on what the Portuguese national team represents. That support should be for the team, for the players, not specifically for me personally. I'm part of the team, a member of the team, and the leader of the team.

So that also means support and affection from the fans for their country, for our country. Before I became coach of the Portuguese national team, I was also a passionate supporter, a very devoted fan of the Portuguese national team. I don't focus on who the coach is, or specifically which players. I focus on my flag, my country, and that's what I want to see. I don't want to be set aside; I always want to be part of the Portuguese national team.

CMTV journalist: You've repeatedly said that Cristiano Ronaldo has his own position. You're also a coach with a position, and you may be beginning to make your own mark on the Portuguese national team. I want to know if your position also allows you to say what you really mean about this? Furthermore, there's the next World Cup, in which Portugal will likely participate under your direction. Cristiano Ronaldo could have been, and perhaps should have been, an ambassador for that World Cup. Will this incident affect that arrangement?

Listen, I won't deviate from the current focus. I won't... you've asked me multiple questions, and I understand that asking questions is a journalist's job. But we're already talking about 2030, which is four years away. Football progresses day by day, not month by month, but day by day, match by match.

Tomorrow's match is the most important one, the one against Norway. Both teams will play with great quality, and the match will be very intense. That's all I want to talk about. There's no need now to change the subject to problems we need to address elsewhere, because the current problem is called Norway.

Coach, hello. I'm Rafael Fernandes from A Bola. Regarding tomorrow's match, you've made adjustments in each match so far. I'd like to ask if João Felix and Francisco Conceição could be options for you tomorrow?

Yes, that's correct. Generally, we make a maximum of four player changes per match, at least in the first three matches. That doesn't mean I can't make a fifth change, going from four to five. It all depends on the players' fitness and what they show me.

This is our fourth match. Players who've played more minutes are starting to feel the accumulated fatigue and are also facing an increased injury risk. Not just now, and not just Portuguese players; it's the same for players from other teams. They can't maintain the same physical condition.

So tomorrow, we'll make some changes with players who have a heavy load. As for players who have recovered, like I said, João Felix has recovered, I believe he's recovered. Why do I say "I believe"? Because we still have one training session. Today's training session will give me more information about João Felix's and Francisco Conceição's condition.

Traduit par IA.

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