On July 1st, Portugal will face Slovenia in the Round of 16 of the European Championship, and Bruno Fernandes attended the pre-match press conference.
Slovenia has not lost in their last nine matches, have you identified any weaknesses in their game?
Fernandes: “We played against them in a friendly, and although Portugal lost, we learned about Slovenia’s style of play. They are good at defending deep, they are strong in their challenges, and if we can maintain stable possession and make them run, we can drain their energy.”
What areas does the team need to improve after losing to Georgia?
Fernandes: “We need to be wary of their counter-attacks. Losing to Georgia was disappointing, but we have also learned some positive aspects. In the end, securing first place in the group is the most important thing, and we should focus on the future.”
What is Portugal’s goal?
Fernandes: “To reach the final, we don’t want to go home early.”
Manchester United has had a difficult season, yet you are here in great form. How do you manage it?
Fernandes: “Sleep a little longer in the afternoon…maintain full energy, my passion and love for football keep me ready at all times.”
Is Portugal afraid of teams like Slovenia?
Fernandes: “Portugal is not afraid of any team. Although we lost to them in a friendly, it made us learn from our mistakes and adjust our tactics. We are not afraid of any team, Portugal’s goal has always been to win.”
Ronaldo assisted you, are you guys more united now?
Fernandes: “Yes, when a striker is one-on-one with the goalkeeper, any striker would choose to shoot. And he is Ronaldo, if he chooses to shoot, the ball would definitely go in, but he chose to assist me. This shows that Ronaldo is a team player, he wants to help everyone.”
Did the team’s performance suffer after the last loss?
Fernandes: “There was definitely some frustration, as we wanted to win all three games. That’s the uncertainty in football, we need to be positive and forget the negative emotions.”
Will two centre-backs or three be more effective in this match?
Fernandes: “You have to ask the coach, the coaching staff has been studying the opponent for the past few days, reviewing the footage, we trust the coach’s tactical deployment.”
Have you talked to any Manchester United players about England’s struggles?
Fernandes: “I haven’t talked to anyone about this, I do often chat with my Manchester United teammates, but not about this. England has their own tactical approach, we have our own, and I always believe in my teammates.”
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