After Portugal's 3-0 win over Turkey in the second round of the UEFA Europa League group stage on June 23, Beijing time, Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves was interviewed by the media, sharing his thoughts on the match and the next preparations.
Neves began by stating that Portugal would like to end the group stage with a perfect performance and that the team is now focusing on preparing for their next match against Georgia. He emphasized that the team will make the necessary rest and adjustments to ensure continued growth and readiness for the Round of 16.
Speaking about his individual performance, Neves said, "I did what I had to do, controlling the ball and keeping my balance in defense." He mentioned that Turkey has players with outstanding individual abilities, which could pose a threat to Portugal. At the same time, he was satisfied with the effectiveness of his passing.
Regarding the match against Turkey, Neves believes that there are no easy matches in the Eurocup and that each matchup has its own uniqueness. He points out that the Turkish team is stronger individually than the Czechs, but is relatively weak in defense.
Speaking about the rotation with teammate Palinha, Neves emphasized that Portugal is a team of 26 players and everyone plays an important role. He mentioned that the substitutes played a key role in previous games and helped a lot in this one as well.
When asked if any team is better than Portugal, Neves responded, "We focus on ourselves." He emphasized that the team focuses on its own growth and performance.
Finally, when talking about Crowe's passing, Neves said that the outside world has a limited understanding of the relationship between Crowe and the Portuguese team. He mentioned that Crowe's passing style has been so good for years and emphasized how close the team is in the locker room and in set pieces.
