In the European Cup Quarter-Final, the Portuguese team after penalty kicks defeated the French team, regret stop. After the game, Portugal team veteran Pepe accepted the interview, expressed his feelings and outlook on the future.
Pepe began by expressing his disappointment at the result of the game: "Given everything we did, given everything my teammates did, we didn't deserve to lose this game. But this is soccer and it's really sad to lose in this way. Five days ago, we won the game in the same way, and soccer can be cruel at times, sometimes giving glory and sometimes taking it away." Despite the heavy heart, Pepe still chose to be positive: "But we have to continue to believe in the process and in our coach. We are on the right path and have sown seeds of hope for the future of Portugal."
When asked if this was his farewell match with the national team, Pepe appeared cautious: "I will have time to talk about that. Today is not the moment to talk about Pepe's future." He preferred to keep the focus on the team's overall performance and hopes for the future.
Speaking of teammate Crowe, Pepe said there is a deep understanding and bond between the two: "I won't say it publicly, but we really feel a lot, and unlike a lot of people think, we really feel a lot of things. We felt the frustration of not winning and being knocked out of a big tournament like the Euros, knowing that we had a lot of strength to move on." He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the Portuguese people, "The best way I can give back is to be on the pitch and do what I do best. I felt their joy, especially with the cheers they gave me at the Euros."
On his feelings about this Europa League, Pepe confessed, "Our journey was short and we could have gone further. But we know that soccer is like that and today we failed." Nonetheless, he remains confident in the team's future, "The important thing is that we have put in the effort and seen the growth and potential of our young players. I believe that Portuguese soccer will have a better tomorrow."
Finally, Pepe made a special mention of young player Felix: "He should be proud of the work he has done, in fact, everyone should be proud. He did well, but it was him who conceded the penalty this time, and tomorrow it could be Pepe who concedes the penalty. But the important thing is the work that has been done and the experience that has been gained. It will give him great growth so that in the future he can have more experience and help Portugal."
