During Portugal's preparations for the Euro 16 match against Slovenia, team veteran Pepe attended a press conference to share his thoughts on topics such as the team's recent developments, his personal status and his outlook for the future.
Regarding Antonio Silva's comments after the game against Georgia, Pepe expressed his condolences to his teammate's family and emphasized that the team is united within itself and supports each other like a family. He mentioned that although the exact content of the conversation is not readily available, the team is closer together in difficult times.
Speaking about the three center-back formation, Pepe believes that flexibility is crucial when facing teams with tight defenses. He revealed that the team puts a lot of effort into this in order to find and utilize space in the game. He emphasized that no matter what formation is used, it is important for the whole team to work together to meet the challenge.
On the secret to a long career, Pepe attributes it to his love and dedication to soccer. He admits that it's an honor to be able to do what he loves every day, and that this love and dedication keeps him in top form during training and matches.
In terms of recovery and maintaining good form, Pepe revealed that he pays a lot of attention to recovery training, and is even jokingly referred to by his teammates as "the master of recovery equipment". He knows that as a veteran, he needs to work harder to regain his strength in order to stay competitive in matches.
As for the future, Pepe said that he is currently focused only on the upcoming training and the match against Slovenia. He emphasized that the game is crucial for the team and the country, and that the whole team will do their best to win.
Speaking about his feelings after the game against Georgia, Pepe said that the team did not lose their fighting spirit because of the loss. He thanked the fans for their continued support and said that the team will continue to move forward with this trust. He emphasized that the game is not over yet and the team needs to play for 90 minutes or even 120 minutes to win.
Regarding his personal feelings about missing the game against Georgia and becoming a free agent, Pepe said that these are coincidences and future events, and that he is currently more focused on helping his team do well in the upcoming games.
Speaking about Portugal's performance, Pepe said the team showed great strength and artistry in the group stage. He made special mention of the importance of the fans' support to the team and said that the team will rely on this trust to move forward. He emphasized that it will be a tough game against Slovenia, but the team is ready for it.
Finally, Pepe spoke about the challenges his team will face in the "Sharks" half of the bracket. He said that although the road ahead is difficult, the team will be united in their efforts to win the title. He revealed that the game plan for the match against Slovenia is to focus on competitiveness and believe that the team will be able to be at its best in order to qualify for the quarter-finals.
