On the eve of Portugal's match against Turkey in the second round of the UEFA Europa League group stage on June 23, Beijing time, Roberto Martinez, the head coach of the Portuguese national team, attended a press conference and commented on the upcoming match and the team's form.
Martinez began by pointing out that Turkey and the Czech Republic are completely different styles of opponents, and that the Turkish team includes both experienced players such as Çalhanoglu and young talents such as Güler, which brings quality to their performances on the pitch. He emphasized that Portugal needs to be well prepared for this.
Speaking about Portugal's past wins against Turkey, Martinez said that the Portuguese team has prepared a strategy to deal with the situation despite the fact that Turkey led the first round of the tournament in terms of steals, interceptions and goals scored outside the penalty area. He did not reveal whether he would change his starting lineup, but emphasized that the team needs to stay compact and know exactly how to stop Turkey's attack.
Martinez gave positive comments on the performance of individual players in the squad. He credited Francisco Conceição with playing a key role in the last game and emphasized that every player in the squad needs to be ready, whether they are starting or on the bench.
Martinez also reviewed Portugal's match against the Czech Republic, noting that the team performed well in terms of possession and corners, but needed to improve on the number of shots on goal in the first half. He particularly praised the team's reaction after conceding the goal, showing maturity and fighting spirit.
Regarding the team lineup and tactics, Martinez said that Pepe can play in different formations and is a very versatile defender. He also talked about Güler breaking Crowe's record as a great moment and expects Crowe to get extra motivation from it.
Responding to a question about the importance of the game, Martinez emphasized that every game is important and the team needs to give their best in the first three group games. He also spoke about the role of Cristiano Ronaldo (Crowe) as a great performer in the first leg and emphasized his importance in the team.
Finally, Martinez responded to Leo's statement that the tournament might be easier for the attacking players by stating that there are no easy matches in the Europa League and that every game requires full effort to compete and solve problems. He praised the balance and strength of the Turkish team and expects a close game.
