At a press conference ahead of Portugal's UEFA Nations League group stage match against Norway at home, Bruno Fernandes discussed the team's adaptation to Jorge Jesus's tactical philosophy, his own role on the pitch, and the controversy surrounding Ronaldo. He stated there is no division within the Portuguese national team and called on fans to stop creating factions. This article includes the first part of the press conference.

Bruno, let's look ahead to the upcoming match against Norway. You weren't able to play in the first meeting between the two teams. Based on what you've seen, what do you hope will be different in tomorrow's match? In the previous match, everyone said Portugal needed to know how to handle pressure. What do you need to do to feel less pressure?

At that time, we really did need to handle pressure, and that was also due to Norway's strength. As the coach has mentioned several times here, they are a very strong team with high-caliber players who can cause us difficulties.

I think we should also recognize and appreciate our team's defensive work, because we defended well back then. We may have given the opposition more chances than we expected, but at the same time, our defensive line was very effective. There are always areas to improve in every match, and the previous match was no exception. Although the result was better, and everyone thought our performance was better, I think what's most important is always to get the result. Now it's increasingly difficult to win away from home. Those three points are very important to us on this journey. I hope we can pick up another three points tomorrow, bringing us closer to our goal.

Reporter (SIC): The last time you played for Portugal at this stadium, you scored a hat-trick, and João Neves also scored a hat-trick. Afterward, you shared the story about João Neves asking you to let him take a free kick. All of this shows you're one of the leaders in the dressing room. I'd like to ask, how have you spoken to your teammates about what's been happening this week? For example, how have you spoken to João Neves? Also, please talk about the new system the coach is introducing to the Portuguese team. Do you think a player like João Neves might have fewer opportunities in this system?

I'll answer the last part first. Who gets playing time and who doesn't is up to the coach to decide. Fortunately, that's not up to me, because Portugal has so many excellent players. I think we can only benefit from this, because it shows our squad has a very high level.

We have players who can play in different positions, and they can also be on the pitch at the same time, just like in the previous match. For example, João Neves, Vitinha, Neves, me, and Félix were all on the pitch together, and all these players can play in very similar positions. I think that's very positive for us.

Just being able to come to the Portuguese national team is already wonderful. I think whether you get a lot of playing time or little playing time shouldn't be seen as negative. All of us 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 start, everyone wants to play. That's why we're here, and also to give the coach a headache, to make his decisions increasingly difficult.

On the other question, I want to try to clarify this issue so that perhaps there won't be any more questions about it later. I'll speak directly to the matter.

I don't think I need to talk to my teammates about this. We all know how to handle our own situations. What's happening with the Portuguese national team right now has nothing to do with the players. I think the most important role we can play is delivering results on the pitch.

About Ronaldo, I've spoken to him. What I told him is what I'll repeat here now: no matter what happens, Ronaldo will always be the most important symbol of the Portuguese national team, the most important symbol of Portuguese football, and perhaps—no, not perhaps, but certainly—the most important symbol of our country. This is because of everything he's done, not just in Portugal, but around the world. I think he certainly has a special place, not just among the greatest players in history, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people.

What's most important now is that we stop creating factions, because there is no division in the Portuguese national team. There is only one Portuguese national team, and there will always be only one. Whatever noise or sounds come from outside, I think every family should close their doors and resolve their own issues. The Portuguese national team should also operate this way, and I believe we will.

I'm confident that what's most important is that this matter will ultimately be resolved properly, with a good outcome for both sides. We're completely uninvolved in this. What we know is what you report and what we see ourselves. To be honest, we spend a lot of time playing cards in the players' lounge rather than watching TV, so we actually know very little about the various controversies surrounding this issue.

But I want to make an appeal once more: don't let this country be divided, don't let people split into factions. Everyone should unite, respect, and accept all sides. At the same time, as I've said, Ronaldo will always be the most important symbolic figure of the Portuguese national team, Portuguese football, and world football. Whether someone likes him more or less, he deserves the respect of all Portuguese people.

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

Bruno Fernandes: After getting a good talking-to, I did. I really did. I know the coach very well, and I've worked with him before. He brought me to the big stage of Portuguese football, so I know what it takes to work with him, and I know that sometimes you need to get a good talking-to. Some criticism is justified, some less so.

However, I think he makes these demands of 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 the second half. There's still room for improvement, even though the second half was better, there's still room for improvement.

What the coach told me at halftime helped me improve in the second half. This is always positive, not just for me, but for my teammates as well, and for the final result of the match. The result of that match was very good for us.

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