Martinez talks about Ronaldo's sending off: His reaction was not a violent act, it was a response to provocation
6686 Sports News on November 15th: Portugal will face Armenia at the home team stadium in the tenth round of the World European Qualifiers. Before the game, Portuguese coach Martinez attended a press conference and talked about competition-related topics.
Talk about the 0-2 loss to Ireland
Martinez: "Our team has a great sense of responsibility and self-criticism. We know that we still have room for improvement, especially after the defeat. We are frustrated, but now is not the time to talk about that game. This frustration will be transformed into motivation to face this team that we respect very much in front of the fans. We look forward to a successful conclusion to the promotion journey."
"I have been coaching the national team for nearly three years. The overall atmosphere of the team is very stable. We like to review the game and keep moving forward. We have experienced defeats together, such as the loss to Denmark, which helped us improve in the next game. Yesterday I saw the players were full of joy and energy, eager to show their best level. This is a special qualifying stage, with a total of six games. We pay attention to details. The team is currently in good competitive form and is eager to prove itself in the game against Armenia."
Martinez: "We have many good memories at the Dragon Stadium. Before me, the play-offs against North Macedonia, the promotion match against Poland, and the promotion match against Slovakia were all full of strength. The Irish team made good use of the home team advantage, and we can do the same. The team likes to play in front of fans, which makes a huge difference."
About Ronaldo being sent offlockquote>Martinez: "I've already said it. It was a difficult moment with a lot of emotions.His reaction was a response to the provocation that was present at the beginning of the game - in every confrontation with the centre-backs, and in the press conference. It was a reaction to keep playing, not an act of violence. It was a response to the provocation. We need to make the situation clear. It would be very unfair to suffer a long ban."
""Will Ronaldo participate? I've already talked about our operating model. His current focus is not on competition. If you are not on the call-up list, you will not be included in the national team. Just like B Fee was not in the national team when he played against Luxembourg, Ronaldo is not here this time either. It's disrespectful to question Ronaldo's sense of responsibility. He has played countless games for the national team and his sense of responsibility is unquestionable. "
When asked about Gonzalo RamosMartinez: "Everyone knows me. We still have one practice session and we haven’t decided on the starting lineup yet. We are used to having two players competing at each position. He is a natural forward and has had many wonderful performances in the national team. He is currently in excellent competitive form and is one of the strikers with the highest goal-per-minute efficiency in Europe. He will play an important role. "
Talking about the Armenian teamMartinez: "I did a lot of research on the Armenian team before the game. People may not have known about their strength before, and their coach hasn't been in the job for a long time. This team is good at penetrating in the middle, playing deftly and innovatively. Defensively, their five-man defense is solid. The win over Ireland has proven their quality. This is a very competitive team and we have a lot of respect for the Armenian team. I admire the work of their coach and the results he has achieved in Armenia’s recent competition. ”
