Portugal defender Pepe said ahead of their Euro 2024 Round of 16 clash with Slovenia that captain Cristiano Ronaldo, despite not having scored yet in the tournament, has been helping the team in his own way and believes the goals will come soon.
Since scoring against Ghana in the group stages of the World Cup in Qatar, Ronaldo has taken 19 shots in seven appearances across the World Cup and Euros, and has failed to find the back of the net. Pepe, a fellow veteran, believes that Ronaldo’s drought will not last long, and that the superstar will find his scoring boots in the knockout stages of the Euros.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Slovenia, Pepe said: “Cristiano was born to score, it’s a fact, but have you seen his commitment to help the national team? It’s incredible, he’s the player with the most minutes on the pitch, and he’s 39 years old. Cristiano’s performance has been great, and I’m sure he’ll do great in the final stages of the European Championship and give us a lot of joy.”
Pepe and Ronaldo won the 2016 European Championship together, and this year’s tournament has seen Pepe become the oldest player to feature in the competition at the age of 41. Pepe said: “It’s a great feeling to be part of this team, a special feeling. The secret to staying in shape is my passion for football, I’ve said it many times, to get up and do what I love most, stay focused and competitive, do every move well, whether in training or in a match, that’s how you stay in shape.”
Asked if he was thinking about retirement, Pepe said he was not thinking about it yet. Pepe said: “I’m not thinking about retirement yet, my focus is on the next training session, the next game, that’s what matters for me and Portugal. The future is in God’s hands, I have a lot on my mind today.”
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