“Cristiano has made a lot of effort in the last two years to be very, very, very close”

The choice of PortugalCatalan Robert Martinezconsidering that the case of Cristiano Ronaldowho turns 40 in February, is exemplary for the level of commitment he maintains, while also seeing how he has become “very, very, very close” to young players over the years. In an interview with EFE at Oeiras Football City, outside Lisbon, Martínez spoke about the Portuguese idol, the current state of the team and the prospects for the Nations League.

The Nations League is currently underway, Portugal has four wins and two draws. The next game is against Denmark. What mentality do they have?

It’s a competition I like. I have been at the national team level for many years and have problems being ready for friendly matches, because they need the players, we have to prepare for big competitions. I believe that the League of Nations has been a great success and now, moreover, it is the fourth edition. Now that the quarterfinals are here, we’re not just talking about the Final Four. It is a competition that gives us a lot of material. We are happy because we have fulfilled the goal of qualifying, finishing first in the group if we can. In that process we used 30 players. In the national team it is very difficult to create a period of growth, but you have to win. We managed to have continuity in results and also use a large number of players, which will help us a lot with our experiences in the European Championship to ensure that the 25th is a year in which we prepare perfectly for World Cup , which is always a middle-distance goal.

Cristiano will be 40 in February and he continues to produce results. How do you do it? How do you keep the promise?

I believe this is an ideal case, it does not usually exist, I believe it is a human aspect that the more you win, the more you do, the more you lose the intensity or the intention that the next day you will have in same level, if not better, And I think this is normal, I have worked with many players who when they reach certain points have a kind of satisfaction that is quite unconscious that prevents you from having the best level for tomorrow I think that’s what he contributes, then, of course, Cristiano is a world icon and the way when Cristiano doesn’t score is because he’s older, when it’s not really like that, Cristiano can score because he’s having a good day. Either he didn’t score goals because he had a bad day or on the contrary he did a great job.

I believe that Cristiano broke that and it’s no secret that other players like Pepe, at 40 years old, at 41 years old, are individuals that what they did yesterday or what they went through doesn’t matter, it helps them because they have better decision-making power, but everyday life is an opportunity to be better and I believe that is partly natural. I believe that you can’t work and then it’s the commitment, Cristiano has a commitment to the football profession, it’s a commitment to what he feels fulfilled, which is to win, which is to be the best and now I believe that he has come a moment that he knows what he sent and that is very important for us in our locker room: to have a 19-year-old player who was probably born when he played Cristiano in his first game for the national team, because it is the truth, a player that He has played 217 games for the national team, he has that contact with other players and he still has intensity, freshness, youth in all the training sessions.

What does Cristiano bring to the younger players, what values ​​does he send to them?

I think he has made a lot of effort in the last two years to be very, very, very close and that is to be admired, because it is not easy, they are different generations and what helps a lot is that he gives a feeling. that it can be achieved. If a young player wants to enter the national team and be successful as a Portuguese player, he can because he has done it, then this is an example that reaches a lot, which in reality is very, very strong for the players that he saw something on television, but It was to highlight a little the closeness that he now enjoys as the responsibility of the captain and experienced player.

Will Cristiano have a place in the national team without being a starter? How does your ownership condition the way Portugal play?

The players in the national team must be on merit, so Cristiano like all the other players, they are all important and we are talking about the details, about the ability to win a great tournament, we know all, Portugal won the Euro 2016 and Éder scores the winning goal, the historic goal, a player who has not been a starter. It’s one thing to be a starter, I believe that being a starter today has no connotation like 15 years ago, now teams have 5 substitutes, there is one team that starts the game, there is another team that the game ends, then there are many games in the season and in the preseason, then you have to be important. To be important you have to have the level to make a difference on the field and there is the aspect of analysis and competitiveness between players, and Cristiano is in that environment, so the past does not help tomorrow’s decisions.