Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martínez addressed the media ahead of the match against Uzbekistan, explaining his continued decision to include Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup.
“He is a role model. He is the captain. He acts like a captain. His vast experience is invaluable to all of us. We’re talking about a player who has represented the national team for 21 seasons. His relentless drive for continuous improvement and his willingness to support the team set an example in the dressing room,” Martínez elaborated.
To further emphasize his point, Martínez turned to the tactical aspect of the game:
“We aim to control possession and win the ball back quickly. When we have the ball, we need to understand how to break into the opponent’s penalty area. We require a player who can create space, and Cristiano excels at that—statistics back this up. He is an icon. His movement, his ability to create space… He is the final missing piece in our strategy.”
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