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Portugal Bounces Back with Crushing Victory Over Armenia, Coach Martinez Emphasizes Mental Fortitude
Lisbon, Portugal – Portugal rebounded from a recent defeat with a dominant 9-1 victory over Armenia. National team coach Roberto Martínez addressed the performance and the absence of key players, emphasizing the importance of mental strength and squad depth.
Speaking after the match, Martínez highlighted the team’s renewed commitment and solidarity, a stark contrast to their previous performance. “Against Ireland, we were anxious… Today, I really liked the players’ reaction,” he stated. He attributed their recent loss, his first in 43 qualifying matches, not to tactical or physical shortcomings, but to a psychological shift. “It was the psychological [aspect] of playing with the idea of losing qualification instead of playing to win.”
Martínez acknowledged the importance of having all key players available, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes, and Pedro Neto. “We are better with Ronaldo, Nuno Mendes and Pedro Neto. I think the important thing is to have all the important players, but also to have confidence and a clear idea that we can win when there are certain players in the starting eleven,” he said. He stressed the need for the team to maintain confidence even when star players are unavailable.
Looking ahead, Martínez emphasized the importance of preparation for next year’s World Cup. He anticipates the March training camp will be crucial in preparing the team for the tournament. “The preparation is important, I want all the fans to enjoy the draw. The internship in March will be very important to prepare for the World Cup,” he concluded.
First Piper 